TONEY NEEDS PREM LIFELINE

WHEN England players arrived for duty at the FA's media centre in Germany in the summer of 2024, they were all in regulation, sponsored footwear.

- ANDY DUNN

All bar Ivan Toney. He had brought his favourite slippers from home, presumably because he knew he would be spending a lot of time in them.

He could have worn them throughout England's group campaign at the Euros, with manager Gareth Southgate not once turning to Toney during those three uninspiring games.

He eventually got a few minutes and made a significant impact, producing an assist for Harry Kane's extra-time winner in the round of 16 against Slovakia and converting his penalty in the shootout win over Switzerland in the quarterfinals.