Toney executed his penalty without glancing at the ball, instead keeping his focus fixed on the goal and Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer. He expressed no sense of pressure, attributing this to his longstanding routine.
Entering the shootout, Toney converted England’s fourth penalty, placing the team on the verge of another semi-final. Although he didn’t start the match, he came on during extra time when Harry Kane exited due to cramps.
Reflecting on his approach, Toney remarked, “I wouldn’t say [I felt] pressure. I always have my own routine, I’m just focused and do what I always do: just take my time and roll it into the back of the net. I never look at the ball. It’s just my routine. Some people may see it as crazy but that’s my routine and I’m going to stick to it. It’s been working and it can work whenever it’s needed.”
His method has proven effective, with Toney having successfully scored 30 out of 32 career penalties (excluding shootouts) since October 2018, only missing once.
Despite Kane’s anticipated return for the semi-final, Toney is likely to return to the bench. However, his impactful substitute appearances throughout the tournament could prompt Gareth Southgate to call upon him again if England require a different approach. The match against the Netherlands kicks off on July 10 at 8pm (BST).