Thomas Tuchel wanted smiles. He wanted a response after the lacklustre performance against Andorra in Barcelona on Saturday, 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 full-backs, Kyle Walker and Myles Lewis-Skelly. The buildups from the back were tough to watch. There was an overall timidity.
England looked as though they might escape with a draw in this friendly 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 video assistant referee 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, another replacement, was dispossessed by Idrissa Gueye and Lamine Camara’s pass was weighted for the substitute Cheikh Sabaly to sweep home.
Memphis Depay equalled Robin van Persie as the Netherlands' all-time leading men's goalscorer with a double in their World Cup qualifying 8-0 rout of Malta. Depay opened the scoring from the penalty spot and then moved level with Van Persie on 50 goals with his strike just after the 15-minute mark in Groningen. Subsitute Donyell Malen struck twice with Virgil van Dijk, Xavi Simons, Noa Lang and Micky van de Ven also on target.
Elsewhere in Group G, Finland defeated Poland 2-1 in a game with a lengthy break due to a medical emergency in the crowd, with one supporter taken to hospital in Helsinki. Joel Pohjanpalo scored a penalty and Benjamin Kallman came off the bench to net, with Arsenal's Jakub Kiwior pulling one back. Poland were without Robert Lewandowski, who has withdrawn from international duty after being stripped of the captaincy by the head coach, Michal Probierz.
In Group H, Austria swept aside minnows San Marino 4-0 thanks to a double from Marko Arnautovic, with Michael Gregoritsch and Christoph Baumgartner also on target in Serravalle. Arnautovic missed out on a hat-trick after his late penalty was saved by Edoardo Colombo. In Bucharest, Florin Tanase and Dennis Man both struck just before half-time as Romania defeated Cyprus 2-0.
In Group K, England's rivals Serbia claimed a 3-0 win over Andorra in Leskovac thanks to an Aleksandar Mitrovic hat-trick, adding a second-half penalty to his two first-half goals. Latvia held Albania to a 1-1 draw in Riga, Latvia's Antonijs Cernomordijs scoring for both teams and Janis Ikaunieks missing a penalty.
Isaac Price made the difference at both ends as 10-man Northern Ireland held on for a 1-0 friendly win over Iceland. The West Brom midfielder put Northern Ireland ahead, bending his shot into the bottom corner after the referee had played a helpful advantage. After Brodie Spencer was sent off in the second half, Price cleared Andri Gudjohnsen's header off the line, before goalkeeper Pierce Charles kept out Isak Johannesson's header in stoppage time.
Max O'Leary marked his long-awaited Republic of Ireland debut with two vital saves to spare his team's blushes in Luxembourg. The 28-year-old Bristol City keeper denied Danel Sinani and substitute Vincent Thill either side of half-time, while the Ireland captain Nathan Collins headed against the post and substitute Jack Taylor blasted against the bar as the friendly ended goalless. PA Media
It was the prompt for thousands of home supporters to stream for the exits, the full-time whistle bringing jeers from those that stayed. “Disgraceful,” bellowed one fan close to the press box. 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 100% 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 from a low Walker cross.
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 from the right. Sarr made up three yards on Walker, which really should not have happened, while Jackson had run away from Trevoh Chalobah, a debutant, 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 touch and 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 by the goalkeeper. For a moment, it appeared that Bellingham would be England’s saviour. Instead, Sabaly twisted the knife.
