England’s Ivan Toney Shines at Euro 2024
England striker Ivan Toney continues to impress at the Euro 2024 tournament, cementing his place in the Three Lions’ lineup. During the quarter-final clash against Switzerland, Toney played a pivotal role in England’s dramatic penalty shootout victory.
Following Bukayo Saka’s late equalizer that forced extra time, the match went to penalties, with Toney showcasing his remarkable penalty-taking ability. The Brentford striker, who replaced Harry Kane in the 109th minute, stepped up and slotted home his spot-kick with his signature technique – a two-step run-up, locking eyes with the goalkeeper and not even glancing at the ball.
“He was a pleasure to work with, a pleasure to talk to and get to know,” said Bob Jeffrey, a goalkeeping director at Tennessee Soccer Club where Toney trained during his suspension. “But the thing that impressed me most was the detail in everything [Toney] did. He never went through the motions. It was like every single shot was to win the World Cup.”
Toney’s unorthodox but effective penalty-taking method has proven successful in his career, as he has scored 30 out of the 32 penalties he has taken outside of shootouts, boasting an impressive 93.75% success rate.
The secret to Toney’s penalty prowess lies in his meticulous preparation. During training, the 28-year-old practices his penalties from 13 yards, rather than the standard 12-yard distance. As explained by Jeffrey, this technique helps the striker perceive the goal as larger when taking penalties in matches.
With Toney’s unwavering focus and Pickford’s penalty shootout expertise, England’s success at Euro 2024 has been the result of thorough preparation and the ability to execute under pressure.
As the tournament progresses, fans and pundits alike will be eager to see if Toney can continue his heroics and help lead England to glory.
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