- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,244,453
- Reaction score
- 59
You must be registered for see images attach
How Ivan Toney got past betting ban to start for England in World Cup 3rd-place match originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
It seems unlikely Ivan Toney will take this for granted.
The striker is starting the World Cup third-place match for England, and while the English squad will be disappointed to be playing in the match, it's a chance for Toney to start over a resting Harry Kane.
It didn't always seem like he'd get back to this point.
He received a suspension in May of 2023 for 232 breaches of the Football Association's betting rules following a 20-goal season for Brentford.
It is worth noting that Thomas Tuchel had called up Toney multiple times since his return from that ban.
MORE: Lionel Messi's right foot makes its own magic in Argentina stunner
Toney was in the squad for the 2024 European Championships, when he assisted on a Harry Kane winner in extra time in the Round of 16. He also made his penalty when England advanced past Switzerland in a shootout.
Toney has been playing in the Saudi Pro League, and scoring goals there. That's what earned him the call-up from Thomas Tuchel for the World Cup.
England doesn't really have obvious secondary striker options beyond Kane, and so Kane was the man in all the matches before England took a semifinal loss.
But now, Toney gets a chance. It may not be glamorous, but it's notable anyway.
Whether or not he gets a goal, he returned to start in the World Cup. That's quite the comeback.
More FIFA World Cup news:
- Erling Haaland brought a wild $750 gift home from the World Cup
- An on-brand finish to Neymar's Brazil career
- Christian Pulisic gives a terrible answer after World Cup-ending loss
- Jerry Jones booed during World Cup match in Dallas
- Actor who played Dani Rojas in Ted Lasso makes pro soccer debut
Continue reading...
