Ivan Toney was left “disgusted” by Gareth Southgate’s decision to bring him on in the 94th minute against Slovakia, according to the England manager.
Southgate waited until deep into stoppage time to introduce Toney but the Brentford forward made an impact as England survive a major scare to reach the quarter-finals of Euro 2024.
Toney helped cause problems from a long throw when Jude Bellingham equalised in the 95th minute and he then set up an extra-time winner for Harry Kane.
After England won 2-1 in Gelsenkirchen, Southgate told ITV: “It is strange but I never felt tonight would be the end of our tournament.
“Even with the long throw you felt there was hope and we can cause some chaos and something might drop. I didn’t think the finish would be quite as it was.
“Ivan Toney was pretty disgusted when I put him on with a minute to go. I think we have made up now. But he has had a big impact in the second goal.
“You put a sub on at that time then it is a last throw of the dice and he maybe does not even touch the ball, so I completely understand it. I do not like putting a player in that position but I just had a feeling he might be able to cause the bit of chaos that happened.”
England laboured again against Slovakia and only a moment of brilliance from Bellingham saved them from a humiliating exit.
Southgate said: “It is one of those classic England nights where we put everyone through the mill.
“They are a good team. It took us a long time for us to work out how to get through their pressure and of course you have got to be patient to do that. There is anxiety in the stadium when you are behind. Second half we did that better and we kept being patient.
“In the end we were relying on a long throw to be the moment. But when you have pushed as much as you have and the opponents are out on their feet, those moments can happen. You have got to keep the belief.”
On Bellingham’s goal, Southgate said: “That is him. You are thinking with 15 minutes to go he is absolutely out on his feet and should we take him off and put some fresh legs on. But you know the sort of impact he can have on a game. Those moments are why you stick with him.
“The top players affect the big games at the moments you need them. It is that mentality he has.”
