Nottingham, England – Thomas Tuchel suffered his first defeat as England manager on Tuesday night, as his Three Lions side slumped to a disappointing 3-1 loss against Senegal at the City Ground. The dire display left fans frustrated, with boos ringing out around the stadium at the final whistle.
Early Promise Fades as Senegal Take Control
England began the match brightly, with captain Harry Kane continuing his prolific form under Tuchel by netting an early opener in the seventh minute. The goal came after Edouard Mendy parried an Anthony Gordon shot, leaving Kane with a simple tap-in. This marked Kane’s fourth goal in four appearances under Tuchel, a unique record for an England manager’s first four games.
However, England’s initial promise quickly faded. Senegal, despite missing key players like Sadio Mane, grew into the game and posed a significant threat throughout the first half. Goalkeeper Dean Henderson was called into action multiple times, making five saves before the break.
The equalizer came in the 40th minute, as Ismaila Sarr capitalized on a defensive lapse from Kyle Walker to finish from a Nicolas Jackson cross.
Second Half Collapse and VAR Controversy
The second half saw England’s performance deteriorate further. Senegal took a deserved lead in the 62nd minute when Habib Diarra found himself in ample space and slotted the ball past Henderson from a tight angle. The goal highlighted recurring defensive vulnerabilities for the Three Lions.
England thought they had found an equalizer late in the game when Jude Bellingham smashed home from a corner in the 84th minute. However, the goal was controversially disallowed by VAR for a handball by Levi Colwill in the build-up. The decision drew strong reactions, with many, including Harry Kane, questioning its validity.
Late Blow and Fan Frustration
Any hopes of an England comeback were extinguished in stoppage time. A rapid Senegal counter-attack saw Cheikh Sabaly calmly finish, compounding England’s misery and securing a historic 3-1 victory for the African champions.
The final whistle was met with a chorus of boos from the disgruntled home crowd, reflecting the widespread disappointment with England’s uninspired performance. This defeat marks England’s first-ever loss to an African nation.
Tuchel’s Post-Match Assessment and Future Challenges
Speaking after the match, Thomas Tuchel described the result as “disappointing,” admitting his side was “frozen and not active enough for a long time.” He acknowledged the need for defensive improvement, stating that England conceded “very easy goals.”
The loss against Senegal, following an unconvincing 1-0 win over Andorra, has put early pressure on Tuchel just four games into his tenure. With World Cup qualifiers looming in September against Andorra and Serbia, Tuchel faces a significant challenge to address the team’s apparent weaknesses and regain the confidence of the fans. Captain Harry Kane also stressed the need for the team to “improve quickly” and regain their “aggressive nature.”
