Thomas Tuchel’s winning start as England manager came to a crushing end as Senegal sealed a shock victory to become the first African side to beat the Three Lions.
Harry Kane gave the hosts an early lead but were pegged back before half-time, with Ismaila Sarr catching Kyle Walker napping to bring parity.
England failed to pick up the pace after the break and were punished by Habib Diarra as Tuchel’s defence was opened up far too easily, with the midfielder slotting through Henderson to send the away end into raptures.
Jude Bellingham then had a late equaliser ruled out by referee Stephanie Rappart for handball before England’s fate was sealed in stoppage time, with Cheikh Sabaly finishing off a lightning counter to condemn Tuchel to his first defeat in the England dugout.
Read More
Thomas Tuchel explains why Club World Cup will give Liverpool and Arsenal huge advantage next season
England vs Senegal LIVE
- Thomas Tuchel's winning run comes to an end as Senegal become first African side to beat England
- 7' GOAL! Kane fires in England opener despite early Senegal pressure [ENG 1-0 SEN]
- 40' GOAL! Sarr equalises after catching Walker asleep [ENG 1-1 SEN]
- 62' GOAL! England undone far too easily as Diarra gives visitors the lead [ENG 1-2 SEN]
- 85' NO GOAL! Bellingham equaliser chalked off for Colwill handball [ENG 1-2 SEN]
- 90+3' GOAL! Sabaly seals England's fate by finishing off lightning counter [ENG 1-3 SEN[
Where do England go from here?
23:28
,
Will Castle
England player ratings as Kyle Walker epitomises defensive shambles against Senegal
23:15
,
Will Castle
It was another dire night at the office for Thomas Tuchel’s men - here’s how Ella Witcher rated the players:
Thomas Tuchel's post-match thoughts
22:59
,
Will Castle
“It's a disappointing result,” he told ITV Sport. “Not sure if we did not deserve a little bit more result-wise. Felt a bit frozen, not active enough for a long time over the match.
“We defended quite well for long periods in the first half and then our best period came when we were 2-1 down. We conceded the first two goals - very easy goals, we need to defend better.
"The reaction was good after we were down. We suddenly were more active, more free, more fluent, more aggressive. We had big chances to equalise."
England ‘not good enough’ but won’t panic, says Harry Kane
22:43
,
Will Castle
Captain Harry Kane insisted England are “not going to panic” following a shock 3-1 friendly loss to Senegal.
“Again, not really good enough,” Kane told ITV Sport.
“We had again moments; just with and without the ball we aren’t quite clicking, aren’t quite finding the right passes, finding the right tempo.
“One v one, we’re losing duels, we’re losing just that aggressive nature that we’ve had and we got punished, we’re playing against a good side. We just weren’t good enough today.
“We’re not going to panic. But for sure we know we need to do better.”
England left battered and booed as Senegal expose the weaknesses Thomas Tuchel must address
22:28
,
Richard Jolly at the City Ground
Managing England, as Thomas Tuchel is fast discovering, is harder than it may seem. A chastening week took a turn for the worse, culminating in the boos that followed his first defeat. It is a moot point whether losing to an accomplished Senegal side is actually a better result than only beating Andorra 1-0 but, a year from the World Cup, England looked anything but potential winners. It was a momentous occasion instead for Senegal: when Cheikh Sabaly scored the injury-time third, they celebrated becoming the first African team ever to beat England. They did not merely overcome them. They outclassed them.
Out-passed, outrun and outwitted, England encountered opponents who were quicker of foot and mind, cleverer and more coherent. That can’t all be attributed to Tuchel, in just the fourth game of his reign, but this was a snapshot of familiar England weaknesses. They lost their way after taking an early lead, lacked control in midfield and looked less than the sum of their parts. They were dismal and dreadful.
Richard Jolly’s full report from the City Ground:
'Awful night for Tuchel and England'
22:15
,
Richard Jolly at the City Ground
An awful night for Thomas Tuchel and England. Yes, he can experiment in friendlies but the performance was terrible. The midfield was a problem, the defence a shambles at times. And it could illustrate that Kyle Walker should head for international retirement.
Thomas Tuchel becomes first England manager to lose to an African nation
21:58
,
Will Castle
FULL-TIME! England 1-3 Senegal
21:45
,
Will Castle
Thomas Tuchel’s winning start as England manager came to a crashing end as Senegal sealed a shock victory to become the first African side to beat the Three Lions.
Harry Kane gave the hosts an early lead but were pegged back before half-time, with Ismaila Sarr catching Kyle Walker napping to bring parity.
England failed to pick up the pace after the break and were punished by Habib Diarra as Tuchel’s defence was opened up far too easily, with the midfielder slotting through Henderson to send the away end into raptures.
Jude Bellingham then had a late equaliser ruled out by referee Stephanie Rappart for handball before England’s fate was sealed in stoppage time, with Cheikh Sabaly finishing off a lightning counter to condemn Tuchel to his first defeat in the England dugout.
Boos rain in from around the City Ground. That was pretty dire.
GOAL! England 1-3 Senegal (Sabaly, 90+3')
21:42
,
Will Castle
Senegal will be the first African side to beat England. And that goal sums up their performance over the past two games.
It started with England hesitating over a dead ball, before Madueke’s eventual delivery didn’t even make it into the box.
From then, Senegal countered like lightning, with Sabaly finishing it off seal England’s fate.
England 1-2 Senegal
21:40
,
Will Castle
90 mins: FIVE minutes added on.
Madueke absolutely skins his man down the right, nutmegging him as he dances into the box, but can’t do any proper damage.
England 1-2 Senegal
21:38
,
Will Castle
88 mins: One more throw of the dice for Tuchel. Toney is finally on.
GOAL DISALLOWED! England 1-2 Senegal
21:36
,
Will Castle
85 mins: Frappart goes to the monitor and decides to rule out the goal for handball against Levi Colwill in the build-up to Jude Bellingham finish.
It wasn’t deliberate, and Colwill wasn’t the goalscorer, which usually means VAR doesn’t rule it out. Thomas Tuchel will feel hard done by there.
GOAL! England 2-2 Senegal (Bellingham, 83')
21:32
,
Will Castle
Jude Bellingham come to England’s rescue again!
Madueke’s corner falls into the Real Madrid midfielder’s path, allowing him to prod home!
But wait - there’s a VAR check for handball...
England 1-2 Senegal
21:31
,
Will Castle
81 mins: Morgan Rogers goes down in the box but it’s a good challenge rather than a penalty, with the hosts awarded a corner.
Nothing comes from the delivery as Bellingham heads wayward.
Senegal then make a change as Jackson comes off for Dia.
England 1-2 Senegal
21:30
,
Will Castle
80 mins: There is one year and one day until the 2026 World Cup kicks off.
The hope was that Thomas Tuchel would deliver international football’s most coveted prize - but this team hardly look capable of getting out of the group.
Ten minutes to go and England need an equaliser to, at least in part, avoid embarrassment.
Positive impact from fan favourite Gibbs-White
21:25
,
Will Castle
Morgan Gibbs-White has at least been involved in a couple of chances since he came on, first drawing a save from Mendy and then setting up Bukayo Saka to do likewise.
There were plenty of chants of his name when the Forest favourite came on. Not too many have enhanced their reputations tonight but perhaps he will.
England 1-2 Senegal
21:22
,
Will Castle
72 mins: SAVE! Jackson looks to get on the scoresheet but his low effort is saved by Henderson for a corner.
England need to make sure this doesn’t get more embarrassing than it already is.
England 1-2 Senegal
21:20
,
Will Castle
70 mins: Tuchel is going to the bench again, but it’s Toney who’s coming on. The Al-Ahli man looks absolutely seething.
Bellingham on for Rice, while Madueke enters the fray for Saka.
Meanwhile, Senegal have brought on Gueye and Sabaly for goalscorers Sarr and Diarra.
England 1-2 Senegal
21:18
,
Will Castle
68 mins: SAVE! That is some stop by Mendy!
It’s quick, incisive football from England as Gibbs-White dances into the box before slipping it into the path of Saka.
The Arsenal winger gets a curling shot away but Mendy gets down to fingert
England 1-2 Senegal
21:16
,
Will Castle
64 mins: CHANCE! Good move from England as Eze latches onto a forward ball and delightfully flicks it into the path of Rogers, who chooses to put his laces through it in the box.
It’s on target but Mendy gets his body in the way.
GOAL! England 1-2 Senegal (Diarra, 62')
21:12
,
Will Castle
Wow. That was just far too easy, and England are behind!
One pass and Diarra has a clear run on goal, driving towards the near post before slotting it through Henderson and into the net.
Senegal lead at the City Ground. It’s not exactly undeserved, is it?
'Something of a slight for Toney'
21:09
,
Richard Jolly at the City Ground
Looks like a side without a striker but with Eze and Morgan Rogers through the middle. An interesting experiment, but something of a slight for Ivan Toney, the specialist striker left on the bench when Kane went off.
England 1-1 Senegal
21:08
,
Will Castle
59 mins: Huge cheers from the City Ground as Forest boy Morgan Gibbs-White enters the fray in place of Gordan.
Jones and Rogers also on for Gallagher and Kane - no sign of Toney. England no longer have an out-and-out striker on the field.
England 1-1 Senegal
21:07
,
Will Castle
57 mins: Eze tries to forge something by himself but gets thwarted, with Senegal thumping it up the field for Jackson to chase.
He proves a handful for Chalobah, holding up the ball before his pass is intercepted.
Triple change coming for England.
'Lack of control should worry Tuchel'
21:04
,
Richard Jolly at the City Ground
The lack of control in midfield should worry Tuchel.
Kane has dropped deep at times to act as the playmaker - too deep at times - but Senegal have showed more craft in the centre of the pitch.
It is a familiar English problem. It isn't one Conor Gallagher is likely to alleviate.
England 1-1 Senegal
21:03
,
Will Castle
54 mins: Nearly a big blunder by Colwill as he’s closed down by club teammate Jackson, giving the striker a chance to escape in behind.
However, Henderson is in a good position and is able to get out before Jackson can do any real damage.
Another England let-off.
England 1-1 Senegal
21:01
,
Will Castle
52 mins: England try to slip Saka through but it just doesn’t run for him, with the subsequent clearance then hitting his arm.
Free-kick for Senegal.
England 1-1 Senegal
20:59
,
Will Castle
50 mins: CHANCE! England have started really slowly in this second-half, and they’re nearly punished.
Rice is caught in midfield and it’s played left before being whipped in by Camara, fizzing to the feet of Diarra in the box who fires over first-time.
Big wake-up call for Tuchel’s men.
England 1-1 Senegal
20:58
,
Will Castle
48 mins: Former Liverpool and Blackburn troublemaker El Hadji Diouf is in the crowd - and according to commentary, the now Senegal national team advisor had some “choice words” for referee Rappart at half-time.
As pleasant as ever.
BACK UNDERWAY! England 1-1 Senegal
20:55
,
Will Castle
And we’re off again!
No changes at half-time - to the surprise of some, Tuchel has opted to keep the already-booked Walker on the field.
Roy Keane gives brutal assessment of Kyle Walker's part in Senegal goal
20:48
,
Will Castle
“I think he’s been lazy. I know he’s had a difficult few months, but for a vastly experienced player like him, he can’t be making mistakes like that,” said Keane on ITV1.
Now 35, Walker’s days as a England starter could - or probably should - be numbered.
Senegal deservedly on terms with England at the break
20:46
,
Will Castle
HALF-TIME! England 1-1 Senegal
20:39
,
Will Castle
More work for Tuchel to do at half-time.
Senegal started the better side but it was England who led for much of the half, with Harry Kane putting the Three Lions in front on seven minutes.
However, persistent pressure from the visitors paid off when Ismaila Sarr caught Kyle Walker napping to equalise five minutes before the break.
England 1-1 Senegal
20:38
,
Will Castle
45+2 mins: Harry Kane gets away from Camara, and looks to drive forward... but there goes the whistle!
England 1-1 Senegal
20:37
,
Will Castle
44 mins: After being responsible for Senegal’s equaliser, Walker has just been booked. Not the end to the half the 35-year-old would have been hoping for.
Senegal snatch 'deserved' equaliser
20:36
,
Richard Jolly at the City Ground
Senegal deserve their equaliser. Or, to put it another way, England don't deserve to be ahead.
Senegal have had more passing moves, carved out a few decent chances and posed problems for the England defence.
Trevoh Chalobah has been the best of the back four so far while Dean Henderson had to make a couple of excellent saves in the first quarter of an hour.
GOAL! England 1-1 Senegal (Sarr, 40')
20:32
,
Will Castle
Senegal catch England napping!
It’s brilliant from Jackson, who keeps chase on the ball over the top and manages to keep it in on the byline.
Hooking it backwards, a sprinting Sarr catches Walker out to reach the ball first and fire home.
It’s really poor from the Man City right-back, who has to be more aware. ThomasTuchel’s England have been breached.
England 1-0 Senegal
20:28
,
Will Castle
36 mins: SAVE! It’s another smart stop from Henderson!
Gueye drives diagonally into the box and gets an effort away through the legs of a handful of England players - but despite seeing it late, Henderson is alert and gets down to save.
England 1-0 Senegal
20:26
,
Will Castle
34 mins: Mendy nearly loses his nerve as Gordon closes the Senegal keeper down - luckily for the former Chelsea keeper, he does get his pass beyond the winger.
Otherwise, we would have had a repeat of the howler he made at Elland Road in 2022 - a game Tuchel was managing in.
England 1-0 Senegal
20:23
,
Will Castle
32 mins: Audible cheers and applause as Morgan Gibbs-White begins to warm up on the touchline.
Hometown hero on the Trent!
'A remarkable miss'
20:20
,
Richard Jolly at the City Ground
A remarkable miss by Anthony Gordon, shooting wide from four yards. Until then, Gordon had made a positive impression, bringing energy, urgency and a willingness to run in behind the Senegal defence. But it was an awful miss.
England 1-0 Senegal
20:20
,
Will Castle
28 mins: MISS! Anthony Gordon can’t believe he’s missed that!
It’s fizzed across the box and looks certain to be a second for England, with Gordon there for the tap in - but he puts it wide!
England 1-0 Senegal
20:19
,
Will Castle
25 mins: England are playing with a lot more confidence as this game goes on, with intent on punishing the high Senegal back line.
Meanwhile, Senegal are also finding no luck with referee Frappart, who reminds them who’s in charge after complaints rain in regarding a decision that went against the visitors.
England 1-0 Senegal
20:12
,
Will Castle
21 mins: Gallagher turns the ball over high up the pitch - exactly why you want him in the team - but just chooses the wrong pass as Senegal’s defence scramble.
He feeds Saka who gets closed and cornered, forcing him to go backwards.
England 1-0 Senegal
20:09
,
Will Castle
18 mins: Free-kick in a dangerous position goes awry as England try to go low and under the wall.
It’s cleared by Senegal but England have the ball again at the back.
England 1-0 Senegal
20:08
,
Will Castle
15 mins: SAVE! Sarr latches onto a cross to head goalwards but it’s a super save by Henderson.
Another important stop from the Palace keeper on only his second England start.
Harry Kane delivering for Thomas Tuchel
20:05
,
Richard Jolly at the City Ground
Harry Kane wants to start every game and, so far, he has scored in every game under Tuchel. That is four in four now but some of the credit belongs to Eberechi Eze, who won the ball from Lamine Camara.
England 1-0 Senegal
20:04
,
Will Castle
12 mins: Decent run from Anthony Gordon leads to a corner, which is thumped away by Senegal.
It comes after Henderson was forced into a save down the other end.
Lively start so far - very different to Andorra, I’ll tell you that.
GOAL! England 1-0 Senegal (Kane, 7')
19:59
,
Will Castle
Against the run of play it may be, but England have the breakthrough!
Eze dances through midfield and plays it to Gordon in the box. The winger forces a save out of Mendy, but Kane is there to gobble up on the loose ball and fire home!
England 0-0 Senegal
19:57
,
Will Castle
5 mins: SAVE! Senegal have started really well and it’s once again the visitors who are creating the early chances.
Ndiaye cuts inside and slips through Jackson, who fires towards the near post - Henderson is equal to it and sticks out a leg to save.
England 0-0 Senegal
19:53
,
Will Castle
2 mins: First shot of the night goes the way of Senegal, and already, alarm bells will be ringing for Tuchel.
One ball completely cuts open Rice and Gallagher in midfield and allows Gueye to get a shot away, which rolls through to Henderson.
KICK-OFF! England 0-0 Senegal
19:51
,
Will Castle
We are (finally) underway at the City Ground!
Garibaldi fan group hold up special tifo
19:49
,
Richard Jolly at the City Ground
The Garibaldi fan group have held up a huge tifo celebrating Viv Anderson, Nottingham Forest's European Cup-winning right-back and the man recognised as England's first black player.
The teams are out
19:45
,
Will Castle
Four and a half minutes behind schedule, the teams finally take to the City Ground.
Here come the national anthems...
Senegal making England wait
19:44
,
Will Castle
Referee Frappart has poked her head around the door to try and coax the Senegal team out of their dressing room while the England team wait in the tunnel.
Kick-off will be a couple minutes delayed because of this bizarre hold up.
T-minus five minutes until kick-off!
19:40
,
Will Castle
Just five minutes to go until things kick off at the City Ground!
Can England produce a more acceptable performance after the inadequacies of Andorra? Or will Senegal inflict more woe to Thomas Tuchel’s side?
Stay tuned for minute-by-minute updates from the friendly, next.
Thomas Tuchel won’t pull punches when criticising England
19:30
,
Will Castle
Thomas Tuchel says England cannot shy away from criticism if they are to make the improvements required to win the World Cup.
Asked if it was a risk being so publicly critical of the team, Tuchel responded: “What risk? You were in the stadium. What should I tell you? That we played a good match and are happy.
“The risk is only that you exaggerate it and make something of it that was not there. Everything I said I said already to the team. There is no harm done.
“We were not happy and no single player will be happy with what we showed today. Why would the coach be? And why would we be shy of saying so?
“If we want to get better, we first need to address that we were not happy with the end of both halves.”
Thomas Tuchel plays down pressure of England job after Andorra near miss: ‘I have felt more’
19:20
,
Will Castle
Thomas Tuchel says he is “always ready” for the pressure of managing England, having “felt more” of it in his career.
“I always feel pressure as I am not happy with myself,” he said after the game at the RCDE Stadium, which naturally saw a significant majority of England fans.
“The biggest pressure comes from myself. We have three wins and three clean sheets and we have a friendly match on Tuesday. I have felt more pressure than that.”
England's home for the evening
19:10
,
Will Castle
Thomas Tuchel must solve unique puzzle to bring out England’s best qualities
19:00
,
Miguel Delaney
It is one of those curiosities that international football tends to throw up far more than the club game - and just something else that Thomas Tuchel has to get used to.
On Saturday in Barcelona, England spent so much time struggling to attack that it actually ended up illustrating issues in defence. The manner in which Andorra congested the area around their goal ensure
