A spot in the Euro 2024 knockout rounds means the looming threat of penalties could soon become all too real for England. And while Harry Kane may be Gareth Southgate's default option on spot-kicks, research shows 12 others in the squad are arguably better prepared for the task.
The Three Lions face Slovakia on Sunday after finishing top of Group C and scoring a paltry two goals along the way. They could then face a potential quarter-final against Switzerland or Italy, the latter of whom beat them on penalties to lift the Euro 2020 crown at Wembley three years ago.
The tetchy nature of England's campaign thus far suggests a shootout could be on the cards in the not-too-distant future. But no fewer than a dozen players at Southgate's disposal are more reliable than Kane from 12 yards, according to TopOffshoreSportsbooks.com, who analysed every player's penalty records (including shootouts) from Under-18 level onwards.
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Bayern Munich's goal machine has taken more than twice as many spot-kicks as anyone else in the England squad, converting 79 of his 90 career attempts thus far. That's equal to an 88% conversion rate, which is by no means anything to sniff at given the quantity.
Brentford's Ivan Toney is yet to play a minute in Germany, but Southgate may consider letting him loose given he's put away 93% of his spot-kicks. His 40 penalty attempts (37 scored) is the only tally that comes remotely close to Kane in the current squad, and he has recent experience after converting against Belgium back in March.
Amid calls for the player to start against Slovakia, Cole Palmer has one of the most impressive returns from the spot after netting each of his 15 penalty attempts from Under-18s onwards. His reliability in high-pressure conditions proved crucail to Chelsea's late rise up the Premier League ranks last season, making him one star to hang England's hopes on should a shootout come calling.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (seven from seven), Conor Gallagher (6/6) Jude Bellingham, Lewis Dunk (both 4/4), Kyle Walker, Ezri Konsa (both 2/2), John Stones and Luke Shaw (both 1/1) also each boast 100% penalty records. And there's a chance any of those names could be plunged into the mix in the event of a shootout.
Alexander-Arnold is yet to take a senior spot-kick for England, though his efforts at Liverpool have helped the Reds clinch FA Cup, League Cup and European Super Cup honours. Likewise, Real Madrid superstar Bellingham has proved he can handle the heat after dispatching his shootout attempt to knock Manchester City out of last term's Champions League, whie Dunk has scored in an FA Cup semi-final decider.
England players with better penalty conversion than Harry Kane (88%)
- Ivan Toney - 37/40 (93%)
- Cole Palmer - 15/15 (100%)
- Eberechi Eze - 8/9 (89%)
- Trent Alexander-Arnold - 7/7 (100%)
- Conor Gallagher - 6/6 (100%)
- Jude Bellingham - 4/4 (100%)
- Lewis Dunk - 4/4 (100%)
- Kyle Walker - 2/2 (100%)
- Ezri Konsa - 2/2 (100%)
- John Stones - 1/1 (100%)
- Luke Shaw - 1/1 (100%)
- Jordan Pickford - 1/1 (100%)
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is one outlier on England's list of perfect penalty-takers, having made history when he stepped up in a shootout with Switzerland during the UEFA Nations League in 2019. The Everton stopper is accustomed to being on the receiving end of shootout situations but may well savour another opportunity to swap roles.
Last but certainly not least, Crystal Palace talisman Eberechi Eze just pips Kane with an 89% record, with eight penalties scored from his nine career attempts to date. His maiden attempt ended in a miss for Queens Park Rangers, but the winger - who got his first Euro 2024 minutes in the draw against Denmark - has finished eight from eight since then.
Although Kane doesn't look liable to budge from his position as England's priority penalty-taker just yet, the squad is buoyed by some impressive options elsewhere. That being said, the stakes at Euro 2024 promise to be unlike anything just about any of those alternatives have faced in their careers to date.
