How Ivan Toney 'cleared the air' with Thomas Tuchel to gatecrash England's World Cup squad

Ivan Toney never gave up on reaching the World Cup - despite even Thomas Tuchel writing him off.

Toney was the biggest headline and story when England boss Tuchel picked his 26 man squad for the tournament. This was the striker written off after he went to the Saudi Pro League. Written off after his appearance for England as a last minute substitute against Senegal a year ago. And written off because Tuchel did not like his attitude in training.

But, in huge credit to Toney, the more people write him off then the more he sets out to prove them wrong. And that is exactly what he did by making the plane to the United States this summer.

Al-Ahli striker Toney, 30, said: “There was a lot of talk by people saying I’d gone out to Saudi and it has ruined my chances of being in the mix but I don’t listen to outside noise.When everybody was writing me off that I wasn’t gonna be involved in the England picture and you to have that spiritual feeling you can turn things round.”

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Toney says he has a “swagger” because of an unshakable belief which has carried him from starting out at Northampton Town, loan spells at Barnsley, Shrewsbury and Wigan before really catching the eye at Peterborough.

There he scored the goals which got him a move to Brentford and proving himself in the Premier League took him to the last Euros where he was a supersub, a huge asset with his “no-look” penalties in shoot-outs and then a big move to the Saudi Pro League.

That looked to have ended his England chances as the coaching staff did not go to see him and Tuchel was open about not liking Toney’s attitude in training or around the camp in June 2025 for the qualifier in Andorra and friendly against Senegal.

Tuchel said he had to “clear the air” with Toney earlier this year before recalling him as none of the other call-ups - Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Dom Solanke - took their chance in March.

Toney speaks with an admirable confidence you could describe as arrogance but you need that to make it like he has done. Even if he admits he has often had to take a step back to go forward.

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“Oh I've definitely done that plenty of times plenty of times. Barnsley, Shrewsbury, Wigan, Scunthorpe, Peterboro, Northampton, everywhere,” Toney told ITV . “It’s given self belief, resilience, an edge.

"I think it was always in your mind you know, you watch the World Cup and think I wanna be involved in that. If you manifest it you always have a big chance of doing it. That’s everything in life.

“I think my head space, like the coach said, we spoke, we cleared the air, we cleared things and I’m in a lot better head space than I was back then. I'm a lot more confident and I feel like I do belong here.

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“I am prepared to help the team in any situation. Whenever I step onto the pitch I have the belief that I can make something happen. Belief, you have to have an aura, swagger has to be there, in life not just in football. Be fearless.

“I think the younger me looking to now would be like enjoy it. Really, the hunger within me and what I can bring to the team is a lot.”

Toney says he is a better player now than at the last Euros and also goes into the World Cup under no illusion that he is likely to be a “finisher” rather than a starter. He will be the player needed to come to win games.

When asked if he is a better player now after going to Saudi, Toney added: “Yes for sure, my numbers speak for themselves. In the league 32, 33 in total? 42, 42 not too bad, ah not too bad.

“I’m grateful to represent my country you know and if the coach wants me to be a finisher then finisher it is. That’s what I’m here to do, win the game and help the team.”

Special feature with Ivan Toney is running as part of ITV’s coverage of England v Costa Rica