Crystal Palace’s ‘deep thinker’ never gave up on England dream despite multiple setbacks

It was in May 2021 that Eberechi Eze suffered the injury that both halted his England career and, he believes, made it possible too. Eze was training with Crystal Palace, playing a small-sided game, when he received the ball and tried to move off. He heard a pop, which he describes as “if someone had kicked me – but nobody was there”.

Eze immediately returned indoors, where he had a session with the club doctor who confirmed that he had a serious Achilles injury. He asked for his phone so that he could tell his wife and family the bad news, but there was already a message there. It was informing Eze that he had been called up to England’s provisional squad for the European Championship.

“It was weird, because in one way I understood that it was proof that I was doing the right things,” Eze said on Tuesday at St George’s Park – he has made the training camp after his second call-up; no bad luck this time. “I’m doing what I can do. The injury is a setback but only that.

“Obviously that it happened on the same day – well I’m a deep thinker. It seemed that it was just another hurdle along the way. You know where you can go now, so the focus is on keep pushing and keep going to get there again.”

Eze also knew how setbacks can make the man. He spent time at Arsenal and Fulham as a child and describes how being released by Millwall was his lowest moment because those around him were signing professional contracts when he didn’t know what was next. But he says that it was only ever football for him – he laughed at a question about what else he might have done because he admits he has no idea. All’s well that ends well.

You can see how Eze has channelled this and used it as fuel in his game. There are elements of the South London football cage education there: the lightning quick assessment of situations, the sense of when to slow down the game and when to burst at speed, the skill in tight corners. But there is also a freedom of expression that is alluring for the neutral.

It is as if Eze has had a glimpse of what might have been and is determined to make the most of what is now. And the bad times? They just make it all the more special.

Eze is grateful to his family for their constant sacrifice; he recalls speaking with his mum about all the stories that brought them here and turns to his father, brothers and sister for advice on a regular basis.

His religious faith also plays a strong part in his personality; he thanked God for his fortune and his support in the majority of his answers in his debut England press conference. Eze insists that he has never lost faith: the releases, the knockbacks, the injuries. They all brought him to this point: better, faster, stronger, more confident.

There is a misconception that these England matches do not matter, squashed as they are at the end of the longest, busiest season in history. England probably did themselves a disservice by winning in Italy and virtually sealing qualification with games and months to spare. Certainly Premier League supporters have already pivoted to transfer mood, publicly begging their clubs to sign players and arguing with each other about the size of their respective teams – welcome to “cry more/in the mud” summer. How can Malta and North Macedonia cope with that?

But within this England squad, away from those who have just arrived from European glory and might have one eye on a pool somewhere hotter and more lavish, there are those who fought long and hard to get here or get back here or to make sure that they stick around. Don’t try to tell Eberechi Eze that this is a meaningless game. He has been thinking about this for the last two years, even since he heard the pop.