World Cup 2025: Ivan Toney hat-trick fires England past Kansas City as Tuchel faces Ghana selection headache

Ivan Toney delivered a sharp reminder of his finishing quality with a hat-trick as England eased to a 5-1 victory in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Sporting Kansas City, sharpening Thomas Tuchel’s selection dilemma ahead of the Group L meeting with Ghana in Boston on Tuesday.

The striker’s display came in a low-key but purposeful fixture staged at Swope Soccer Village, arranged to maintain sharpness during a congested tournament schedule.

England, who had only recently faced Croatia in their opener, used the session to hand fringe players extended minutes and sustain match rhythm across the squad.

Toney steals the show with clinical treble

Toney stood out in a lively attacking display, netting three times to underline his case for greater involvement behind captain Harry Kane. Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins also found the net as England’s second-string line-up overwhelmed their opponents across two shortened matches. The fixture was split into two 25-minute games against separate Kansas City sides, allowing Tuchel to rotate heavily while maintaining intensity. The result reinforced England’s depth in forward areas, with Toney’s finishing particularly eye-catching as he capitalised on sustained pressure and quick transitions to complete his hat-trick.

Tuchel maximises recovery window with experimental set-up

Tuchel used the short gap between fixtures to stage the internal exercise, less than 24 hours after the win over Croatia. The coaching staff viewed the session as a controlled environment to top up fitness levels rather than a formal contest, with the squad also having previously faced USL Championship side Miami FC in a similar run-out last week, a 6-0 victory played over two 25-minute halves. The approach reflects England’s intent to balance recovery with competitive sharpness as they prepare for a crucial meeting with Ghana, where squad rotation and tactical flexibility could prove decisive.

Kane welcomes extra minutes for squad depth

Harry Kane highlighted the value of the session for players needing game time and match sharpness.

“It was great. Great for the guys who didn’t get enough minutes yesterday to top up the tank. It was a good test. Thanks to Sporting for doing the game. They held themselves to a great standard. They got a nice free-kick goal themselves.

“Obviously from a football point of view, we knew it would be a game to score a few goals which we did. But they put a good test in and we got out of it exactly what we needed.”

Selection headache ahead of Ghana showdown

Toney’s form inevitably adds to Tuchel’s attacking considerations as England turn their focus to Ghana. With Kane still the undisputed leader of the line, the battle for supporting roles has intensified, particularly after productive contributions from Watkins and Rogers.

The performance also raises questions over how Tuchel will balance continuity with rotation in Boston, where England are expected to face a more competitive test.

The internal showing has strengthened the case for increased squad involvement across the forward line, but also complicated an already crowded selection picture at a critical stage of the group campaign.