‘No need to panic’

PHIL NOBLE/ REUTERS - Thomas Tuchel reacts in dismay as his 

England side struggle against Senegal at the City Ground

Senegal stun England but Tuchel stays calm

Thomas Tuchel insisted England should not panic over their World Cup prospects despite being humbled by Senegal one year and one day before the tournament begins.

11 Jun 2025 - The Guardian

Andy Hunter  - @City Ground

Tuchel suffered the first defeat of his reign at the City Ground and England their first loss to African opposition in 22 matches as Senegal ran out deserving 3-1 winners. Jude Bellingham had a goal controversially disallowed at 2-1 but, after the laboured win against Andorra in World Cup qualifying on Saturday, there was no disguising the paucity of

England’s latest performance under their German coach. England were booed off for the second game in succession.

The England head coach, however, insisted improvement would come and it was premature to worry about the World Cup one year in advance. “We lost a test match so there is no need to panic,” said Tuchel.

“We have three qualification games, we have nine points, we have not conceded and we will be competitive in September and we will go for two more victories, 100%. We know more now, we are smarter. It is tough at the moment. I am the first one to dislike and hate losses but we don’t go next week, we go in one year and I think by nature it will get more competitive in the nomination process and in the demands for players to be nominated and to be with us in September, October, November because we are in a World Cup season.”

Tuchel defended his decision to leave Ivan Toney on the bench until the 88th minute, explaining the striker was at his best inside the box and England were not close enough to it when he brought on Morgan Rogers instead. But he conceded the defeat, plus two poor performances, would leave a bad feeling throughout the summer.

Tuchel said: “Now we go into a long break with a bad feeling and a loss which is simply not nice and not what we wanted. I will never be glad for a loss. I’m glad for a tough test and challenges. We wanted to feel the quality of a top-20 team and we felt their quality. We felt what it means to them. I heard them in the dressing room before the match, I heard them in the dressing room after the match so I know how much it means to them to play against us. How much joy they expressed if they make this happen.

“It’s the right thing to test, the right thing to challenge. Of course we demand a lot of ourselves and I demand more of myself, we wanted to play better against Andorra, and do better today. It is a tough learning.”

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MOLLY DARLINGTON/THE FA VIA GETTY IMAGES

Senegal’s players celebrate their second goal scored by Habib Diarra

Sabaly’s clincher condemns woeful England to dismal defeat by Senegal

11 Jun 2025 - The Guardian

David Hytner

Thomas Tuchel wanted smiles. He wanted a response after the lacklustre performance against Andorra in Barcelona, albeit in a 1-0 World Cup qualifying win. What he got was another line to his brow, plenty to ponder as he begins what could be a long summer debrief. And more boos.

There was a bit of zip and personality from Tuchel’s team in the final 25 minutes of regulation time. He made attacking changes, with the Nottingham Forest midfielder, Morgan Gibbs-White – on his home ground – showing up. Eberechi Eze, who played from the start, was good. Morgan Rogers came on up front for Harry Kane, who had given England an early lead, and there was some pace and energy.

The problem was that Senegal were 2-1 up by then, having played around and through England far too easily. They were much the better team in the first half, Ismaïla Sarr’s equaliser scant reward for their efforts. The faultlines were pronounced for England at the back; it was a particularly uncomfortable evening for the fullbacks, Kyle Walker and Myles LewisSkelly. The build-ups from the back were tough to watch. There was an overall timidity.

England looked as though they might escape with a draw when Jude Bellingham, who came off the bench, took a touch on his thigh before lashing home in the 83rd minute after Levi Colwill had smuggled a corner towards him. That would be scrubbed out when the VAR spotted the ball had come off Colwill’s upper arm.

Tuchel went for broke, introducing Ivan Toney for Lewis-Skelly and switching to three at the back. But Senegal had continued to advertise their threat on the counter and with England now leaving the back door open, they stormed through it in stoppage time. Curtis Jones was dispossessed by Idrissa Gueye and Lamine Camara’s pass was weighted for Cheikh Sabaly to sweep home.

It was the prompt for thousands of home supporters to stream for the exits, the full-time whistle bringing jeers from those that stayed. Never before have England lost to an African nation. Has Tuchel had a honeymoon period? It is hard to say, given the opposition in some quarters to his appointment. If he has, it is over.

Tuchel wanted Senegal to come and play. No 5-4-1 Andorra-style low block, bus parked, handbrake on. He expects his England team to raise their level significantly against the better opponents. Which for long spells, did not happen.

Senegal played. There was a moment early on when the quicksilver Iliman Ndiaye streaked away from Lewis-Skelly up the right before tricking inside Conor Gallagher and playing in Nicolas Jackson with a reverse pass. It was a clear chance for Jackson, who blasted too close to Dean Henderson. The tone was set.

Can a visiting team start too well? Camara was certainly emboldened to try a fancy spin on the edge of his own defensive third and when he was robbed by Eze, who played as a No 10-cum-second striker, Senegal were stretched. Eze went left to Gallagher, who went left again for Anthony Gordon, who shot low. Édouard Mendy made a hash of the save. Kane was alive to the rebound.

It was a weird first-half performance from England. They were static and predictable when they attempted to play out. Where were the options? Tuchel wants time to instil them. He does not have it. England played with fire as Senegal brought the press. Tuchel’s men made errors on the ball. They went down, at times, desperately appealing for fouls. It was tough to watch.

Kane made a few nice moves as he dropped back and tried to ignite his team while Gordon blew a golden chance on 29 minutes, dragging wide of an empty net at the far post.

Senegal were more cohesive and dynamic, and they deserved the equaliser, swept home by Sarr after he was sharper to react than Walker to Jackson’s hooked cross. Sarr made up three yards on Walker, which really should not have happened, while Jackson had run away from the England debutant, Trevoh Chalobah, on to a ball over the top. Senegal had other flickers in the first half. Sarr was left alone to work Henderson with a header and Gueye did likewise when he shot through a crowd.

Tuchel had demanded energy, exuberance. It was Senegal who continued to bring it after the restart. There was a reason why Tuchel introduced Gibbs-White just before the hour. The crowd needed a lift. So did England. By then, Senegal might have been ahead, Habib Diarra lifting high following an El Hadji Malick Diouf cross. It was no surprise when Senegal took the lead. Lewis-Skelly was caught out by Kalidou Koulibaly’s ball up the inside right channel and Diarra was away, England wide open. The finish was steered through Henderson’s legs.

Gibbs-White was positive while Eze came alive as England tried to respond. There was an outrageous layoff from the latter for Gibbs-White, who drilled too close to Mendy. The pair also combined to tee up Bukayo Saka; his shot was brilliantly saved. For a moment, it appeared that Bellingham would be England’s saviour. Instead, Sabaly would twist the knife.