KANSAS CITY, KANSAS – JUNE 25: Ivan Toney #22 of England trains during an England Gym Session during the England FIFA World Cup 2026 Camp on June 25, 2026 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)Ivan Toney has insisted that he has not been brought to the World Cup by Thomas Tuchel just to take a penalty for England, as the striker awaits his first minutes at the tournament.Toney was a surprise wild-card pick in Tuchel’s 26-man England squad, with the head coach describing the striker as a “specialist”. However, the forward has pushed back against the assumption that he is only in the United States in case England are involved in a penalty shoot-out.”I like to think I bring more than just penalties. I think I can bring more to the game. But if I’m just to come on for one minute and take a penalty, I’d never turn that down. I’m here to help the team,” Toney said.The Brentford striker famously scored a no-look penalty for England in their quarter-final shoot-out win over Switzerland during the European Championships two years ago. Asked whether he will repeat the approach at this World Cup, Toney kept his cards close to his chest.”I can’t share that. We’ll have to see if I get one, then we’ll find out. It’s an opportunity to help my team, and that’s what I’m here to do.”Waiting for his chanceTuchel is yet to give Toney a single minute at the World Cup ahead of England’s final Group L game against Panama in New Jersey. The striker has remained professional despite his limited role.”It’s every game I can’t wait to get on, but the coach is in charge, and I have to respect his decision whether I think I should be on the pitch or not. Maybe he’ll have different ideas, which he did the other night. But, listen, I’m ready for whenever he chooses me and have to show him why I’m here and what I’m capable of.”Ahead of the World Cup, Tuchel held clear-the-air talks with Toney after the former Brentford star had failed to impress during an international camp in June last year. Toney claimed Tuchel now knows “the real me”.”It wasn’t really an apologising situation on both sides. I think it was just more of because he doesn’t really know me as a person. So it’s more like speaking more and diving in deeper into what I’m about and what he’s about also. We both cleared the air, and I think he got good feedback on myself, from other players and other people not in football outside the game. And I think now he’s starting to see the real me.”Toney has remained sharp in training, scoring hat-tricks for England in behind-closed-doors practice games against Miami FC and Sporting Kansas City. He is drawing on his experience of waiting for opportunities earlier in his career.”I’ve been here before, been on the bench and been scrambling to try and get on the pitch. The prime example was when I was at Peterborough. I didn’t play for the first nine games, and the players in the team were playing well. I waited for my chance and managed to take it and, thankfully, scored a good amount of goals. So you just have to be ready for your chance and take it, and if it comes, I’ll be ready.”For Toney, the message is clear: he is ready when called upon, whether that means taking a penalty or contributing more to the team’s cause.
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