Thomas Tuchel: 'We got punished against a good side'

Three Lions head coach Thomas Tuchel described England’s 3-1 defeat to Senegal as ‘disappointing’.

Tuchel’s side locked horns with the Lions of Teranga at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground in an international match-up but it wasn’t the outcome the England boss or his team were hoping for.

“I’m not sure if we didn’t deserve a little bit more result-wise but it felt a bit as if we were a bit frozen and not active enough for a long time during the match,” admitted Tuchel.

Tuchel critiqued the performance after the full-time whistle sounded, explaining that he was pleased with his players’ reaction after falling behind in the second half when Habib Diarra turned it around for Senegal on the hour mark.

“We defended quite well, for a long period in the first half,” commented Tuchel. “Then our best period came when we were 2-1 down.

“I think we conceded the first two goals – very easy goals that we need to defend better. I think the reaction was good after we were down. I felt us suddenly become more active, more free, more fluid, more aggressive towards the opponent’s goal.”

Tuchel’s side had the ball in the back of the net for a second time on the night when substitute Jude Bellingham thought he’d equalised for England in the second half, but the goal was chalked off for a handball by Levi Colwill in the build-up, following a VAR call by referee Stephanie Frappart.

“I just saw it, said Tuchel, reflecting on the decision. “It looks like it's more of the shoulder than the hand.”

Three Lions forward Ivan Toney made a brief cameo during the game, replacing Myles Lewis-Skelly with 88 minutes on the clock, with the 29 year old having earned a recall to the squad for the June camp with Tuchel keen to see Toney in action.

“I think that Ivan is kind of a specialist for exactly these situations,” explained Tuchel. “We created a lot of chances with Morgan Gibbs-White, with Ebs [Eberechi Eze], with Morgan Rogers and with Jude in fluid positions.

“Ivan is the strongest if we have then a phase where we have a lot of balls in the box, and that was the case, so after 80 minutes, we made him ready.

“Then we scored and then they took the goal away, so it took a while longer than we wanted. But that's basically what he can give – presence in the box and the goal later in the match.”

Tuchel and his players will regroup later in September when England face Andorra at Villa Park before going head-to-head with Serbia in the next phase of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.