"Take nothing away from Jude, he still has a lot to do, but creating space for others is important." Ivan Toney
England "finisher" on helping the finishers.
Slightly forgotten amidst all the celebration of Jude Bellingham’s stunning equaliser against Slovakia, and then all the focus on his reaction, was the selfless work put in by Ivan Toney. As Kyle Walker’s long throw came in from the right deep into added time in Gelsenkirchen, Toney made his move.
He knew Marc Guehi would try and get a flick on but nothing was planned. This is England, relying on individual ability. Toney first guided Matus Bero away from Bellingham, and then leant into and pinned Norbert Gyomber so he could not reach Bellingham.
Talking after training at Blankenhain on Wednesday, Toney took up the story of the ball’s passage. “It fell to Jude and Jude did Jude things and put it in the back of the net.” Toney made it sound so simple yet without his intervention Jude cannot do Jude things. Pushed on the moment, Toney described his role as “trying to rough up a few defenders and put myself around”. Pushed further, Toney expanded further. There was no plan, simply individuals taking responsibility.