Konsa and Eze pay tribute to key figures in journeys

Ezri Konsa and Eberechi Eze paid tribute to past coaches and family members who played key roles in their respective journeys to representing England at this summer's tournament when speaking on the latest episode of Lions’ Den connected by EE.

The pair both experienced their first major tournaments with England two years ago at EURO 2024.

Konsa played the full match on Wednesday as the Three Lions began their campaign with a 4-2 win over Croatia in Dallas and the Aston Villa defender detailed some of his role models and personnel who have played a significant role in his rise.

“I had a coach at Charlton, Steve Avory,” Konsa said on Lions’ Den. “He played a big part in my career. When I was younger, there were times at Charlton where nobody believed in me and he was always the man to push me and to remind me of how good I was.

“Even to this day now, we still speak so he’s a big part as to why I’m here now. He probably gave me that strong mindset that I have as well.

“Another person is my dad or my brother, one of them two. I think I’ve been blessed with a great support system around me. Them two are a big part of that and obviously I’ve now got a family of my own, growing up and seeing how my dad was, I’ve been able to become a great father and a great partner.”

Lions’ Den host Andrew Mensah is Eze’s cousin, and the Arsenal star admitted that he had played a big role in his own journey, as well as his youth coaches at QPR.

“You played a big role,” the forward confessed. “You, your brother, my brother. Paul Hall, Chris Ramsey, Andrew Impey. Those were three guys who were just for me and wanted to help me, wanted to push me, wanted to show me what it took to become a professional player and to achieve and to express this gift in this industry.

“[I’m] massively grateful to them because without them I don’t think I would see things the way I do, I don’t think I would be as positive, as joyful as I am in this position. I’m very grateful to them and they gave me the understanding of application. How to work hard, how to apply yourself, how to do what’s needed to be done to achieve.”

Eze added: “Something that fuels me is reminding myself of where I’ve come from and where God has brought me from. I feel like that’s a powerful thing that I have in my mind and heart all the time. Not taking any day for granted.

“Even if it’s not your day, even if you’re not at your best or whatever it is, being grateful, having the same application regardless of what you’re feeling. It’s like your responsibility, your obligation.

“I think that’s what helps me continue to improve and to want to continue to be better. To grow as a player and a person.”

The Three Lions have been in the United States for over two weeks now, having first enjoyed a warm-up camp in Florida before heading to their base in Kansas City and beating Croatia in Dallas.

Now, they’re preparing for their second group match against Ghana in Foxborough on Tuesday and both Konsa and Eze admit there is a different feeling to when they were in Germany two years ago.

“In the EUROs, you’re playing teams in Europe whereas here you’re playing teams from all over the world," Konsa declared. "It just feels different. We’re in America. [The] weather’s good.

“For me personally, it’s a tournament that I’ve always wanted to play in since I was a little kid. In that sense, it feels different.”

Eze added: “Obviously the tournament itself, you can see what it means to people. You can see how much more attention is around it. Special to be around it. Special to be a part of it. Special to be in it competing and a chance to win. It’s what you dream of as a kid. Definitely a special one for us.”