England closed their West Palm Beach camp on Thursday with a 6-0 win over Miami FC, and Ivan Toney made sure the scoreline did the talking. He scored once in the first half and twice after the break, finishing with a hat-trick in a match that took place away from cameras and supporters.
The result gave England one more run-out in their World Cup preparations after a 1-0 win over New Zealand on Saturday and a 3-0 victory over Costa Rica on Wednesday. This time the match was split into two 25-minute halves after the format had initially been set as three 22-minute periods, and both teams made wholesale changes at the break before England pulled away with five second-half goals.
For Miami FC, the setting was unusual even before kick-off. Thomas Tuchel told the USL Championship side that they could play in any shape they wanted with any game model, a level of freedom that is not usually part of elite friendlies, where control and structure are often tighter than in a training exercise. Victor Lonchuk said the whole situation felt different and that England’s approach made the night memorable. He added that Tuchel was fantastic at the end of the game, picking up towels and bottles left on the field.
Lonchuk also singled out Jordan Henderson, describing him as super aggressive in closing down Miami players with intensity. Miami, seventh in the Eastern Conference and 12 points behind leaders Tampa Bay Rowdies, did have one moment that nearly changed the tone when Mathieu Ndongo hit the crossbar in the second half, but the chance went unrewarded and England kept control.
The match ended with an impromptu penalty shootout, a small extra piece of competition after a game that had already been hidden from view. England now turn back to the business of their campaign, with their Group L opener against Croatia next on the schedule, while Toney’s three-goal outing leaves a clear marker from a friendly few outsiders saw.
