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What it's REALLY like to face an Ivan Toney penalty: Ex-England goalkeeper Ben Foster explains how the Brentford star 'makes you look like an absolute fool'

4 months ago 24
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  • Ivan Toney confidently dispatched England's fourth penalty against Switzerland 
  • The Brentford striker has a supreme record from spot kicks during his career 

By Tum Balogun

Published: 08:25 BST, 8 July 2024 | Updated: 08:34 BST, 8 July 2024

Former England international Ben Foster has opened up on what it's like to be on the receiving end of an Ivan Toney penalty. 

The Brentford striker showed no sign of nerves as he took his incredible record from 12 yards to the international stage in England's penalty shoot-out win over Switzerland on Saturday. 

Toney was one of five successful takers for the Three Lions, with his effort including his famed two-step run-up while starring only at the goalkeeper.


Foster, who was unsuccessful in his efforts to thwart Toney from the spot in 2020 as Watford keeper, revealed the issues a penalty from the 28-year-old presents.  

'He makes you look like an absolute fool,' Foster said on the Football Fill-In podcast. 'As you stand there and you're watching him and he's watching you and he's sauntering up to the ball. 

Ex-England star Ben Foster has revealed what it's like to face a penalty from Ivan Toney

Toney confidently dispatched his penalty for England in the shoot-out win over Switzerland 

'And you're thinking, "do you know what you're doing here?" And then he waits so long to the point where you have to make a decision. You have to. 

'But he still waits for you and he'll just roll it in the far corner. To have the confidence to be able to do that. 

'He took a penalty for England [against Belgium] and you just know he's going to score it. I had so much faith in him - exactly the same technique and rolls it in the corner.'

Foster continued: 'He doesn't even look at the ball. He is so aware of his body and where the ball is that he can just watch the goalie and he does just watch the goalie.

'He waits for him to make that one little side step and then it's in the other corner. It's almost unsavable.'

Toney has an incredible 93 per cent success rate from the spot in regulation time, converting 28 of his 30 attempts in his career. The only two keepers to deny him are Adam Davis and Nick Pope. 

Speaking after the win over the Swiss about his decision to focus on Sommer rather than the ball, Toney told reporters: 'I just do what I always do… step up and roll it into the net.

Toney denied feeling any pressure as he helped England reach the semi-final of Euro 2024

'I never look at the ball. People might think it’s strange but it’s my routine.'

The 28-year-old also denied feeling any pressure and he certainly didn't seem to be suffering from nerves as fans hailed his composure.

'Toney is the coolest man on the planet. Bro is a villain,' one X user wrote.

Toney is viewed as one of the best penalty takers in the Premier League and it was no surprise that he was brought on in extra time in anticipation of taking one.

England return to action on Wednesday when they face the Netherlands in the semi-final after Ronald Koeman's side came from behind to beat Turkey 2-1 on Saturday night.

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