Marcus Rashford insists he will take a penalty if England face a shootout at the World Cup. The Three Lions meet Colombia in the last 16 on Tuesday, having seen a number of major teams already crash out of the tournament, including Spain, Germany and Argentina. La Roja were beaten by Russia on penalties on Sunday, while Croatia also eliminated Denmark in a shootout. England and Colombia will be aware that spot-kicks are a very realistic possibility for them to face, and Manchester United striker Rashford maintains he will definitely step up, despite having never taken a senior penalty.
“I think he (manager Gareth Southgate) knows the players who are confident in those circumstances. I’d be willing to step forward,” he said.
“Not everybody here is a penalty taker for their club. It’s more if you feel comfortable taking one, which I do, that’s the way you go about it.
“If you don’t feel comfortable you have to be honest with yourself. That gives the team the best chance.”
England have not won a penalty shootout since 1996 when they defeated Spain in the European Championship. Rashford, though, says that he and his team-mates have been practising, with previous England teams crashing out of the World Cup on penalties in 1998 and 2006.