Euro 2024: Ivan Toney was 'disgusted' by late substitution admits England boss Gareth Southgate - Eurosport

Blog update as of June 30, 2024 at 10:43 PM GMT.

Southgate Calms Concerns Over Toney Substitution In Dramatic Euro 2024 Victory

Southgate said he could tell that Ivan Toney was upset when he was substituted late in England's victory against Slovakia.

Gareth Southgate acknowledged that Ivan Toney was very unhappy to be brought into the game so late in England's tense 2-1 victory against Slovakia.

Jude Bellingham scored an amazing bicycle kick and Harry Kane scored a header in extra time to help England make a dramatic comeback and win their last-16 match at Euro 2024. Toney assisted the winning goal by setting up his captain.

Southgate held off making a second change until the 84th minute when he brought on Eberechi Eze for Kobbie Mainoo. Toney was then introduced 10 minutes later, despite the score remaining at 1-0.

The 53-year-old made it clear that any disagreement had been resolved between him and the Brentford striker. Southgate admitted to ITV that he was not comfortable putting any football player in that situation.

Southgate acknowledged that Ivan Toney was clearly not happy when he was brought on with just a minute left in the game. However, Southgate believes they have since made amends. Toney still managed to make a significant impact, contributing to the team's second goal.

If you substitute a player at that moment, it's like a final gamble. They might not even get a chance to make an impact on the game, so I can see why the decision was made.

I didn't want to make that player feel uncomfortable, but I had a hunch that they might be able to stir up some trouble.

As the clock ticked past the final minute of extra time, England was on the verge of their earliest elimination from a major tournament in eight years. Despite the pressure, Southgate confidently believed that his team would make a comeback.

Bellingham is pleased to prove his critics wrong by giving back. He is not bothered by the negative comments people make.

He mentioned that he never had a feeling that tonight's game would be the last of the tournament. Even with the opponent's strong throw, there was still a sense of possibility that they could create some confusion and maybe something unexpected could happen.

I was surprised by how the game ended. With only 15 minutes left, Bellingham seemed exhausted and we were considering substituting him.

"But his ability to make a significant difference during a game and those critical moments are the reason why you continue supporting him in those situations."

Southgate highlighted that England struggled to advance the ball against Slovakia's pressure defense, which was a major issue in how the team played.

However, the ex-Middlesbrough manager commended his players for their determination and perseverance, maintaining their faith until the very end.

Southgate remarked: "I believe it's one of those typical England evenings where we really tested everyone's nerves, right?"

"They played well. It was a challenge for us to figure out how to break through their tough defense."

"We were investigating and we remained persistent. Ultimately, we depended on a lengthy throw to make the breakthrough."

I believe that when you have given all you have and the opponents are exhausted, those special moments can occur and it is important to maintain your confidence.

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