- The England and Brentford star scored the coolest penalty in the shootout
- Toney imitated his trademark no-look style for fans at the England Diary room
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England penalty shootout hero Ivan Toney teased fans with a hilarious video in which he recreated his trademark penalty shooting style without looking.
The Brentford striker was the latest guest on the Diary Room series, one of England’s behind-the-scenes training camp programmes on social media, and played basketball, connected four, darts and read a book, all without looking.
Although his ‘no look penalty’ on the most prominent stage seemed ridiculous to the fans, it was nothing special for Toney.
“I’ve always done this. I feel like it works for me and I hope I can keep doing it,” he said.
“I always look at the goalkeeper, no matter who it is. I always wait to see if he makes the first move and if he doesn’t, I choose a corner to put the ball in,” he explained.
England star Ivan Toney plays four in a row without looking as he jokes for fans
Toney shows off his dart skills in his usual style, without looking of course
Joker Toney pauses to read, without looking, in the behind-the-scenes show of England’s Diary Room
Toney makes a no-look basketball shot that mimics his no-look penalty against Switzerland
The penalty shoot-out hero added: ‘I was excited, obviously I got to go back on the pitch. I got to take a penalty and yeah, I think they were five good penalties.’
Toney scored England’s fourth penalty in an ice-cold effort in their quarter-final against Switzerland, thanks to some perfect spot-kicks from the Three Lions.
Despite the high stakes of the moment, Toney showed the confidence that Brentford and Premier League fans know so well.
Toney stared at Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer and waited for him to startle, then calmly fired into the bottom left corner, past the helpless Sommer.
To be honest, he [Sommer] not broken [eye contact] but I put him in the corner. He dove the right way but he was in the corner so luckily he went in,” Toney said.
The striking penalty style did not only delight the fans, England star Bukayo Saka was also impressed by his teammate’s skill.
“It’s crazy. We’re all just in awe, I don’t know how you can not look at the ball,” Saka said.
Luke Shaw also weighed in, adding: ‘I can’t believe it. It’s crazy, especially when you watch the video back. There’s one guy who just shows his face and it’s crazy.’
The eyes have it: Toney’s ‘no-look’ penalty against Switzerland that he joked about to the England fans
Toney prepares to take his ‘no-look penalty’, the fourth in the quarter-final shoot-out – England fans and players were shocked by the Brentford player’s nonchalantly confident technique
It was a ridiculously smooth moment after Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham and Saka had all scored their penalties.
Switzerland’s Manuel Akanji made the decisive mistake and missed his country’s first penalty.
Trent Alexander-Arnold then converted the final penalty to send England through to the semi-finals against the Netherlands after they won 5-3 in the penalty shootout.