FOOTBALL fans were left in stitches after the official England social media accounts posted a video of Ivan Toney playing games and reading a book without looking.
Toney stunned Three Lions supporters with his no-look penalty in the shootout against Switzerland on Saturday.
The striker stared down Yann Sommer before slotting the ball into the bottom-left corner without looking at it.
Some fans hailed it as “one of the greatest penalties ever”.
Toney’s team-mates also praised him for the impressive feat.
Bukayo Saka said: “It’s crazy. We’re all just in awe, I don’t know how you cannot look at the ball.
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“When we see him practising in training, he does the same thing.”
While Luke Shaw added: “I cannot believe it. It is crazy, especially when you watch back the video. There’s one just showing his face and it’s mad.”
Toney took centre stage in the latest edition of England’s Diary Room series on social media this week and was seen doing everyday activities without looking.
The striker was filmed playing Connect Four, darts, basketball and reading a book without looking.
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England can’t take their eye off the ball… you’ve NEVER cracked penalties, warns Jurgen Klinsmann
THE key to winning penalty shootouts is to never think you’ve cracked it, writes Jurgen Klinsmann.
England were so impressive from the spot against Switzerland on Saturday — all five penalties were exceptional.
That will bring confidence to Gareth Southgate’s team but there is no guarantee they will win another one, in the semi-final against Holland or in the final.
Do not expect the next shootout to be the same. Thinking like that is very dangerous.
If a game goes to extra-time, don’t just believe you can get all the substitutions right and manage the game, then win on penalties — that’s when you take your eye off the ball.
And, unless you’re Ivan Toney, that’s usually a bad thing.
After so many bad experiences with shootouts over the years, it always plays on your mind.
It’s tragic when you keep losing that way and I know the whole English nation used to dread penalties.
Gareth and his staff have changed all that, thanks to excellent preparation. They know shootouts are no lottery.
The German national team haven’t lost a shootout since 1976 — and, of course, we beat England on penalties in the semi-finals of 1990 World Cup and Euro 96.
Here, our approaches were actually very different.
In 1990 we were full of players who were extremely confident in moments like that — players like Andreas Brehme, Lothar Matthaus and Rudi Voller, with extremely big personalities.
We were so convinced we would win that tournament in Italy, so we didn’t spend much time practising penalties.
Six years later, it was very different. We knew we didn’t have the same quality as England and we prepared for penalties methodically.
We got through because of an extreme desire to win, a willingness to suffer and, yes, being good at penalties.
As a manager, you have to read every player.
If he’s totally confident in his approach to taking a spot-kick, then he doesn’t have to shoot five penalties every day. Others need constant repetition.
I’ve always prepared my team for shootouts as if they would be crucial.
We never felt embarrassed about saying that. It’s part of preparation for knockout matches.
Read all of SunSport columnist Jurgen Klinsmann’s Euro 2024 opinions.
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Fans took to social media to react, with one person writing: “This is quality! 😂👏.”
Another commented: “Unreal, this guy never looks at anything.”
A third said: “This is how you social media.”
While a fourth wrote: “@ivantoney24 is now the poster boy of NO LOOK anything!”
England next face Netherlands in the Euro 2024 semi-finals on Wednesday.
Should they win, the Three Lions will then face Spain or France in the final.
Toney scored an incredible goal in training ahead of the match.
He volleyed it into the top corner from a tight angle, past Aaron Ramsdale.
England player ratings: Saka the saviour for Three Lions but subbed Kane stuggles in penalties thriller vs Switzerland
BUKAYO SAKA showed huge courage as he dug England out of a hole and through on penalties against Switzerland, writes Tom Barclay.
The Three Lions looked to be going out when Breel Embolo had put Swiss ahead on 75 minutes.
But Arsenal star Saka dragged England back into five minutes later with a stunning effort off the post.
To penalties it went – just like it did between these two sides five years ago in the Nations League.
And just like back then, Jordan Pickford made a save – repelling the Swiss’s first effort from Manuel Akanji.
England were perfect from then on, with Cole Palmer, Jude Bellignam, Saka, Ivan Toney and finally Trent Alexander-Arnold sending the Three Lions into the semi-final.
Here’s how the players rated…
Jordan Pickford: 7
Had his heart in his mouth when Xherdan Shaqiri’s corner deep into extra-time hit the post and bar, but then pulled off a smart stop to take it to penalties.
Saved Manuel Akanji’s first spot-kick by diving low to his left.
Kyle Walker: 6
Spent most of the game on the right side of a three which meant he could not get forward. Embolo got in front of him for Switzerland’s opener. Won the toss so the penalties were taken in front of the England fans.
John Stones: 6
Crisper passing in the first half, much better than his sloppy Slovakia display, but his deflection on Dan Ndoye’s cross diverted it to Embolo.
Ezri Konsa: 6
Was decent in the first half of his maiden start at a major tournament but, like the rest of the team, went into his shell after the break.
Kieran Trippier: 6
Had been expected to play right wing-back but was once again on the left.
Solid defensively but, as has been the case throughout the tournament, offered little going forward on his unnatural side.
Declan Rice: 7
Anticipated, and subsequently, won a number of 50-50s at the base of England’s midfield.
It was his decoy run that opened up the space for Saka to find the corner, before his 25-yard wonderstrike was denied by a flying Yann Sommer save in extra-time.
Kobbie Mainoo: 6
Some decent drives forward from midfield. Looked as if he would fire home an opener just before the break after
Bukayo Saka’s nice cutback, but was denied by Granit Xhaka’s excellent block.
Bukayo Saka: 8 and STAR MAN
Did not play at left wing-back as expected, but was England’s most dangerous attacking player throughout – and none more so when he came to the rescue with his 80th-minute leveller which flew in off the post.
Showed huge courage in the shoot-out as he stroked home his penalty beautifully, three years on from missing in the last Euros final.
Jude Bellingham: 6
Produced a few graceful dribbles which showcased his quality in the first half but pretty quiet.
Looked knackered but showed big cojones with his low penalty.
Phil Foden: 6
Admitted before the game that his central role would suit him better and it seemed to in the first 20 minutes, but faded after that.
Harry Kane: 4
This system just does not suit him. He needs runners, but does not look like he is going to get them.
Just could not get into the game and was subbed out of it in extra-time, seconds after he was sent crashing into his manager on the touchline.
SUBS
Cole Palmer (for Konsa, 78): 7
One of three players to come on in reaction to Switzerland’s opener – why did it take so long, Gareth? Dispatched England’s first spot-kick with aplomb.
Luke Shaw (for Trippier, 78): 6
First minutes of football since February, slotting in on the left side of back three as Southgate went for broke.
Eberechi Eze (for Mainoo, 78): 6
Carved out a nice bit of space for himself in the dying moments but fired wide.
Ivan Toney (For Kane, 109): 7
It was no surprise to see him come with the prospect of penalties on the horizon – what was more of a shock was that it was for spot-kick maestro Kane. Was knocked over in the box right at the end of extra-time, but nothing was given. Confident penalty.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (for Foden, 115): 7
Thrown on late into extra-time. Belted home his spot-kick to win it.
Gareth Southgate: 4
The adjusted back three system worked to a certain extent, but still the approach looked to be to keep it tight and rely on a moment of magic.
Saka provided that for the leveller, but given the talent at his disposal, it seemed very limited.
Took an age to make a change – prompted only by Switzerland going ahead. But got his subs right when it came to the penalty shoot-out.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
