- Ivan Toney scored a ‘no-look penalty’ in England’s penalty shootout against Switzerland
- Mail Sport challenged fans at Euro 2024 in Germany to copy Toney’s technique
- LISTEN to It’s All Kicking Off! EUROS DAILY: Gareth Southgate has become a bit cocky… and the mask has fallen
Ivan Toney’s remarkable penalty technique caught the attention of fans during Euro 2024, when England beat Switzerland on penalties in the quarter-finals.
The Brentford striker, who has a career penalty percentage of 93.75%, is known for not looking at the ball when taking a penalty.
His technique worked on Saturday as Toney was one of five England players to score in the shoot-out, while Swiss defender Manuel Akanji failed to beat Jordan Pickford.
Discussing his penalty routine after Saturday’s match, Toney said: ‘I never look at the ball. Given that it’s my routine, I just think that’s what I do, but some people might think it’s crazy. But it’s just my routine and I stick with it. It works and it can work when it needs to.’
So how hard is it to take a penalty without looking at the ball? Mail Sport reporter Aadam Patel tried to find out by challenging a group of fans in Germany this week.
Ivan Toney scored for England in their 5-4 penalty win over Switzerland at Euro 2024 on Saturday night, despite not looking at the ball
Toney’s unusual penalty helped the Three Lions reach the semi-finals in Germany
England play the Netherlands in the last four matches in Dortmund on Wednesday evening
The task was to shoot a ball in a straight line from the penalty spot to another ball placed in the center of the goal.
The first three fans all failed, while one of them seemed to make the task even more difficult than it already was by closing his eyes completely.
The next two fans did, however, score, including a Manchester United supporter who celebrated the goal in style.
While the two successful penalties in the fan park were impressive, they were nowhere near as good as the five real penalties Gareth Southgate’s men took on Saturday night.
Toney’s trademark shot came after Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka had all found the net convincingly.
Trent Alexander-Arnold then made it five from five to take the Three Lions through to the semi-finals, where they will face the Netherlands on Wednesday.
Mail Sport’s Aadam Patel (right) challenged fans in Germany to copy Toney’s technique
After three fans tried and failed to control their kick without looking at the ball, a left-footer dressed in full football kit finally scored.
A Manchester United fan also passed the test, after which he celebrated the victory by pointing upwards
Asked if any of England’s penalties against Switzerland could have been saved, Toney replied: ‘No, I don’t think so, but that’s the quality we have. We all rely on penalties and if it comes to that, we have enough takers to take one. I had faith in all the lads and we deserved it in the end.
‘I always have my own routine and just focus and do what I always do, which is take my time and roll the ball into the net. What was I thinking when I walked forward? Make sure I score my penalty!’