England's performance was subpar against Senegal, admits Kane, but there's no cause for alarm following the loss
England Suffers First Loss Under Tuchel Against Senegal in Friendly Match
In a surprising turn of events, England suffered their first defeat under the management of Thomas Tuchel against Senegal during a friendly match on June 10, 2025. The final score was 1-3, marking England's first loss against Senegal and an African opponent in recent history.
The match began on a positive note for England, with Harry Kane scoring the opening goal. However, the momentum shifted in Senegal's favour as Ismaila Sarr, Habib Diarra, and Cheikh Sabaly all found the back of the net for Senegal.
A controversial incident involving Levi Colwill resulted in a disallowed goal for England, adding to the team's woes. Harry Kane expressed his dissatisfaction with England's performance, citing issues with tempo and aggression.
Following the match, Kane was booed off the pitch by some England fans, a rare occurrence in English football. The team will now regroup and discuss their next steps, with a focus on improving performance ahead of the World Cup.
Kane, who is currently the England head coach, believes that new ideas and the integration of inexperienced international players are necessary for improvement. The team will look to bounce back from this defeat and continue their preparations for the upcoming World Cup with renewed vigour.
It is worth noting that England had previously defeated Senegal 3-0 in the World Cup in 2022, so the 2022 World Cup did not mark a loss for England under Tuchel's management. Moreover, Tuchel was not the England head coach during the 2022 World Cup.
This loss to Senegal is a setback for England, but the team remains optimistic about their prospects in the upcoming World Cup. They will look to learn from this defeat and use it as a stepping stone towards improvement.
Although England's focus was shifting towards the upcoming World Cup, their preparations took an unexpected turn with the first loss under Thomas Tuchel in a friendly match against Senegal. Despite Harry Kane's initial goal, the Premier League team faced a setback as European leagues rivals, Senegal, managed a 3-1 victory, scoring through Ismaila Sarr, Habib Diarra, and Cheikh Sabaly.
