• Ivan Toney scored a no-look penalty in England's shootout win over Switzerland
  • Mail Sport challenged fans at Euro 2024 in Germany to copy Toney's technique
  • LISTEN to It's All Kicking Off! EUROS DAILY: Gareth Southgate has gone a bit rogue... and the mask has slipped 

Ivan Toney's remarkable penalty technique caught the attention of fans at Euro 2024 during England's shootout victory over Switzerland in their quarter-final.

The Brentford frontman - who has a spot-kick conversion rate of 93.75% across his senior career - famously does not look at the ball when taking a penalty.

His technique worked on Saturday as Toney was one of five England players to score in the shootout, while Swiss defender Manuel Akanji failed to beat Jordan Pickford.


Discussing his penalty routine following Saturday's game, Toney said: 'I never look at the ball. Considering it is my routine I just think it is what I do but some people may see it as crazy. But it is just my routine and I'll stick to it. It's been working and it can work whenever it is needed.'

So, just how hard is it to take a penalty without looking at the ball? Mail Sport reporter Aadam Patel tried to find out by challenging a group of fans in Germany this week.

Ivan Toney scored for England in their 5-4 penalty-shootout victory over Switzerland at Euro 2024 on Saturday evening despite not looking at the ball

Ivan Toney scored for England in their 5-4 penalty-shootout victory over Switzerland at Euro 2024 on Saturday evening despite not looking at the ball

Toney's unusual spot-kick helped the Three Lions progress to the semi-finals in Germany

Toney's unusual spot-kick helped the Three Lions progress to the semi-finals in Germany

England will now face the Netherlands in Dortmund in the last four on Wednesday evening

England will now face the Netherlands in Dortmund in the last four on Wednesday evening

The task set was to kick a ball in a straight line from the penalty spot to another ball that was placed in the centre of a goal.

The first three fans all failed, while one of them appeared to make the task even harder than it already was by closing his eyes completely.

However, the next two fans both hit the target, including a Manchester United supporter who celebrated in style.

Although the two successful fan-park penalties were impressive, they were nowhere near as good as the five real ones taken by Gareth Southgate's men on Saturday night.

Toney's trademark finish came after Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka had all emphatically found the net.

Trent Alexander-Arnold then made it five out of five to sent the Three Lions through to the semi-finals, where they will face the Netherlands on Wednesday.

Mail Sport's Aadam Patel (right) challenged fans in Germany to replicate Toney's technique

Mail Sport's Aadam Patel (right) challenged fans in Germany to replicate Toney's technique

After three fans had tried and failed to control their kick without looking at the ball, a left-footer dressed in full football kit finally hit the target

After three fans had tried and failed to control their kick without looking at the ball, a left-footer dressed in full football kit finally hit the target

A Manchester United fan also passed the test, before celebrating by pointing skywards

A Manchester United fan also passed the test, before celebrating by pointing skywards

Asked if any of England's penalties against Switzerland were saveable, Toney replied: 'No, I don't think they were but that is the quality we have. We all back ourselves on penalties and if it goes to that we have enough penalty takers to take one. I had confidence in all the boys and we deserved it in the end.

'I always have my own routine and just focus and do what I always do, which is take my time and roll it into the back of the net. What did I think as I was walking up? Make sure I score my penalty!'