Thomas Tuchel demanded better after the drab showing against Andorra but he didn't get it, as the African nation embarrassed the Three Lions
England suffered a dismal 3-1 loss to Senegal as Thomas Tuchel tasted defeat for the time as Three Lions boss on a truly awful night for the hosts at the home of Nottingham Forest.
After an early scare that saw Nicolas Jackson force Dean Henderson into a smart save, it was that man Harry Kane, in from the start once again, who opened the scoring in the seventh minute – the Bayern Munich striker tapping home after Anthony Gordon's low shot was saved by Edouard Mendy.
It should've been 2-0 28 minutes in but Newcastle winger Gordon somehow failed to find the target as he raced into the box to try and convert Kyle Walker's delicious cross from the right – a shocking miss that would soon be punished. With Senegal growing into the game – and having already forced Henderson into five first-half saves – they grabbed a deserved equaliser shortly before half-time as a simple ball over the top caught out the Three Lions and left an unchallenged Nicolas Jackson to square for Ismaila Sarr to convert with Walker hopelessly caught napping.
One would expect Tuchel to have delivered some choice words at half-time but whatever he said didn't seem to work. Another long ball over the top completely opened up England, with Habib Diarra taking advantage as he broke in behind Myles Lewis-Skelly and found a way through Henderson and into the net.
The hosts had their chances – first Gibbs-White and then Saka being denied by a superb Mendy save – but it wasn't to be for the Three Lions, who saw a late Jude Bellingham goal ruled out by VAR for a handball by Levi Colwill and, to make matters worse, Senegal then broke up the other end and made it three courtesy of Metz winger Cheikh Sabaly.
GOAL rates England's players after a hugely frustrating evening for Tuchel and his charges at the City Ground…
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Dean Henderson (5/10):
Made a number of decent saves to ensure England only conceded once in the first half. Might've done better to keep out Diarra's effort, that went through his legs and into the net.
Kyle Walker (3/10):
A nightmare evening for the right-back. Way off the pace and completely fell asleep at the far post as Sarr dashed past him to convert the equaliser. Would've had an assist to his name but for Gordon spectacularly fluffing his lines.
Trevoh Chalobah (4/10):
Not the England debut he would've dreamt about. Naively gave Jackson far too much time to cross for equaliser and was given a tough ride all night by his Chelsea team-mate.
Levi Colwill (4/10):
Loose with his passing at times and didn't seem comfortable up against the threat of Jackson. Didn't sense the danger of the long balls over the top for both goals.
Myles Lewis-Skelly (4/10):
A really poor night for the Arsenal full-back, who was caught out for the second goal and offered nothing going forward.
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Declan Rice (4/10):
Seemed way off the pace after a long and gruelling season with Arsenal. Was overrun, and sometimes bullied, in midfield and clearly now needs that long, post-season rest.
Conor Gallagher (5/10):
Had some issues dealing with the dangerous Ndiaye and Gueye as England lost the midfield battle in the first half. Hooked for Curtis Jones soon after half-time.
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Bukayo Saka (4/10):
Completely anonymous until his big chance finally arrived shortly before he was replaced after 71 minutes, only for Mendy to make a miraculous save to deny him.
Eberchi Eze (6/10):
One of very few in an England shirt to have had a positive influence on the game. One of those bright moments saw him pinch the ball and drive forwards to help create the opening goal.
Anthony Gordon (4/10):
How did he miss?! Set the tone with his early pressing and it was his saved shot that led to Kane tapping in the opener but the sitter he sent wide was truly awful and ruined his night.
Harry Kane (7/10):
Probably scored the easiest of his 73 England goals with the early tap-in. Didn't have a sniff after that as his team-mates struggled to create any chances for him before he was taken off for Rogers.
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Curtis Jones (5/10):
One of three changes made just before the hour-mark but had little impact.
Morgan Rogers (5/10):
Came on for Kane but couldn't change the course of the game.
Morgan Gibbs-White (7/10):
Injected some much-needed life and energy into the attack when he came on and was unlucky not to score. Also set-up a big chance for Saka.
Jude Bellingham (6/10):
On for the final 20 minutes and thought he'd found a clutch equaliser, only for VAR to rule it out.
Noni Madueke (N/A):
Replaced Saka and sent over the corner for the disallowed goal but brought on too late to be able to have a meaningful impact.
Ivan Toney (N/A):
Sent on with a couple of minutes remaining for Lewis-Skelly.
Thomas Tuchel (4/10):
Another hugely disappointing display from his side and, unlike against Andorra, this time they paid for it against stronger opposition. His defence completely fell apart and his second-half substitutions didn't bring about the necessary change in fortunes. Awful.