Ivan Toney underlined his World Cup potential with a hat-trick in England’s behind-closed-doors practice match against Miami FC this week, a clear reminder to Thomas Tuchel that the striker is ready to seize his chance. The 30-year-old served an eight-month betting ban, ditched the Premier League for Saudi Pro League club Al Ahli, and then completely blew his England chances a year ago. Now, 12 months later, he is in the squad, earmarked as one of England’s “finishers”, and has gained a glowing reference from Harry Kane. Tuchel’s assistant Justin Cochrane persuaded the England boss that Toney was worth another look, despite a move that appeared to end his international career. Toney scored 42 goals in all competitions for Al Ahli, but Tuchel did not go to see him once. The striker previously played a role from the bench at the Euros in 2024, setting up Jude Bellingham’s last-minute equaliser against Slovakia and scoring in a shoot-out. He was charged by the FA in November 2022 for 232 breaches of betting rules and served an eight-month ban that ended in January 2024. Toney worked his way up from Northampton, showed his potential at Peterborough and became a prolific Premier League striker with Brentford before his move to Saudi Arabia.
Across the Atlantic, Olivier Giroud, now a BBC Sport pundit after retiring from international football in 2024, has backed his former Chelsea and AC Milan teammate Christian Pulisic to take the USA to the next level at this World Cup. “I was not surprised at how well he played against Paraguay because I think that he has got what it takes to take the US team to the next level over the next few weeks,” Giroud said, though he added that a calf problem that meant Pulisic came off at half-time is a concern. Giroud, who called Pulisic “Captain America” at Milan because he was the star player even without the armband, noted that the 26-year-old has had a “so-so season” for Milan: “He started well, but then the team collapsed and did not qualify for the Champions League, and he went a few months without scoring.” Pulisic came to Chelsea from Borussia Dortmund in 2019 as a young kid but already carried the hopes and pressure of his nation. Now, with Giroud watching from the studio, the US face a crucial test if their talisman is fit.
“Ivan Toney scored a hat-trick in a practice match, while Giroud backed Pulisic to lead USA despite calf injury.”