‘Incredible experience’ – Crystal Palace attacker Eze relishing chance for England at summer Euros

BY ANDREW MCSTEEN

In a whirlwind three months for Crystal Palace’s Ebere Eze, the attacking midfielder has returned from a month-long injury lay-off in March, going on to play in 10 of the 11 remaining Eagles’ Premier League games, scoring six times. 

South Londoner Eze was named in Gareth Southgate’s England training squad of 33 players ahead of the European Championships in Germany in June and July and went on to make his first start for the senior national team in a 3-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday in Newcastle. He then came on as a 72nd-minute substitute in a 1-0 loss against Iceland at Wembley on Friday.

“It’s an incredible experience, as always, playing for England,” said Eze after his appearance against Iceland on Friday night. “It’s something that you have to be grateful for, for sure. Today, we didn’t get the result that we wanted, but [we’ve got] loads of stuff to learn from. We’ll keep pushing, there’s stuff to work on for sure.”

 In-between the Bosnia and Iceland games, the Greenwich-born player was named as one of 26 players in Southgate’s England squad for the upcoming continental championship, alongside club teammates Marc Guehi, Dean Henderson and Adam Wharton.

 “It’s big,” said the 25-year-old about being included in the final squad. “I’m obviously grateful to God for the opportunity. I’ve been working hard, been pushing and happy for all of us, all the Palace boys, to get in the squad and to be at this stage, for sure.

“You’re with them day-to-day, it makes it easier to settle in here, with all the types of players that you’re playing with so it’s helped massively for sure.”

 In Germany, England will face Serbia, Denmark and Slovakia in the group stage, with a familiar face expected to line up against England when they face the Danes – Crystal Palace defender Joachim Andersen.

 “He’s a teammate at Palace, but out there he’s not going to be our friend. We’re going to do everything we can to win,” said Greenwich-born Eze with a smile.

 “They were good warm-ups for us and a lot of what we’re going to be seeing in the tournament,” he added about the friendly matches against Iceland and Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

“[The teams in Germany] will be similar to what we’ve faced in the last few games, so it’s been good preparation. Again, we didn’t get the result we wanted today, but we’ll work to put it right.”