Recently, England forward Ivan Toney admitted in an interview that he was unhappy with Gareth Southgate for bringing him on as a substitute only in stoppage time.
In England’s 2-1 comeback victory over Slovakia, attention naturally focused on Jude Bellingham’s match-saving bicycle kick. However, another factor in England’s turnaround was Toney’s assist for Harry Kane’s winning goal in extra time.
Toney said, “I think when you have two strikers, you just need to be active and make things happen, which gives the opposition more to think about. I could lay it off to Kane, and he’d take his chance.”
Coming on in the dying minutes of regulation time, Toney confessed that he was annoyed with Southgate, stating, “In that moment, it’s about controlling your emotions. I was frustrated, and I think my face said it all. But then you realize there are still 30 minutes left, and you have to focus.”
“Now everything is sorted. We’re friends! You’re excited to be involved, everyone wants to play, not just me. Towards the end of the game, you’re thinking, ‘When am I going to get on?’ You look at the clock and think, ‘Now, now.’ The time isn’t up, and then it’s the last minute.
“I’ve seen it many times where you’re waiting on the touchline to come on, and the ball doesn’t go out of play, and you never get the chance before the final whistle. But if you’re not frustrated sitting on the bench, I think you don’t have the right attitude and aren’t truly hungry to play football. When you do get on, you have to stay focused and switch your mindset.”