Senegal dealt Thomas Tuchel his first major setback as England boss with a commanding 3-1 win in Nottingham on Tuesday night, marking the Three Lions’ first ever defeat to African opposition.
England were second-best throughout, despite an early lead from Harry Kane, who scored his 73rd international goal.
Goals from Ismaila Sarr, Habib Diarra, and Cheikh Sabaly turned the game on its head and exposed the cracks in Tuchel’s new-look side.
Just days after scraping past Andorra 1-0 in World Cup qualifying, Tuchel made 10 changes, but the shake-up failed to inspire a response.
England lacked cohesion and intensity, leaving home fans frustrated at the City Ground.
“We’re not clicking,” admitted Kane post-match. “We’ve lost that aggressive nature we used to have.”
Tuchel, brought in to end England’s long wait for silverware, now faces growing scrutiny just four games into his tenure.
The former Bayern and Chelsea manager has yet to settle on a consistent lineup or system, and Tuesday’s display did little to quiet early concerns.
Despite the defeat, England remain top of their World Cup qualifying group after wins over Albania, Latvia, and Andorra. But with the 2026 tournament just a year away, time is already running short for Tuchel to find answers.
