By Martin Graham
England’s 3-1 defeat to Senegal at the City Ground came as a jolt for supporters hoping for steady progress under Thomas Tuchel. With one year remaining before the 2026 World Cup, the team looks far from ready to challenge for a title that has eluded them since 1966.
This match marked Tuchel’s first defeat in charge, following victories against Albania, Andorra and Latvia. However, the performance against Senegal, particularly the passive start and disjointed display, raised concerns. Fans in Nottingham responded with boos, and midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White admitted, “We let ourselves down. We let the country down.” He emphasized that England only began to express themselves after falling behind—too late to make a real impact.
Tuchel replaced Gareth Southgate after England’s Euro 2024 final loss to Spain. Southgate’s tenure was marked by strong tournament finishes but also repeated questions over tactical identity. Tuchel’s short time with the squad has so far not revealed a clearer direction. Former Everton player Leon Osman noted the lack of noticeable changes in system or style and questioned whether this defeat signaled a shift or simply an experiment gone wrong.
For some observers, the countdown to the World Cup feels alarmingly short. With just a handful of matches left before the tournament, the defeat by Senegal could highlight deeper issues. Roy Keane pointed to concerns over unity and team spirit, suggesting that England currently lacks the cohesion needed to succeed on the world stage.
Tuchel, however, remains calm. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, he described the current period as a “tough learning” phase and said the aim of fielding less-experienced players was to test them under pressure. Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwill and Eberechi Eze were all given starts, with mixed results.
Michael Brown urged fans not to return to a negative mindset, pointing out the inexperience in defense and the poor reaction after conceding goals. Though he acknowledged some fear in the team’s performance, he also noted improved energy once attacking changes were made.
Despite the friendly loss, England’s position in their World Cup qualifying group remains strong with three wins from three. The next competitive fixture is a home match against Andorra in September, followed by four additional qualifiers and a friendly with Wales.
Assuming automatic qualification, Tuchel is expected to have up to nine matches – including four friendlies – before the tournament begins. While some believe that isn’t much time to prepare a title-contending squad, others view it as sufficient for Tuchel to implement his ideas.
Whether these matches are enough to build a cohesive and competitive team remains uncertain. For now, England fans are left hoping that Tuesday’s defeat was more of a temporary setback than a sign of deeper flaws.
