Match Summary
In a surprising turn of events, England faced a 3-1 defeat against Senegal during an international friendly at Nottingham’s City Ground. This match marked the first time England has ever lost to an African nation in 22 encounters .
Key Moments:
- 7th Minute: Harry Kane capitalized on a rebound from Anthony Gordon’s shot, giving England an early lead.
- 40th Minute: Ismaïla Sarr equalized for Senegal, exploiting a lapse in England’s defense.
- 63rd Minute: Habib Diarra put Senegal ahead with a well-placed shot through Dean Henderson’s legs.
- Stoppage Time: Cheikh Sabaly sealed the victory for Senegal with a decisive goal in the dying moments of the match.
A potential equalizer by Jude Bellingham was disallowed after VAR review identified a handball by Levi Colwill in the buildup .
Match Statistics
| Statistic | England | Senegal |
|---|---|---|
| Possession (%) | 52 | 48 |
| Shots on Target | 4 | 9 |
| Total Shots | 6 | 11 |
| Corners | 3 | 5 |
| Fouls Committed | 18 | 10 |
| Offsides | 2 | 1 |
Reactions
Thomas Tuchel (England Manager): Expressed disappointment over the team’s performance, highlighting defensive errors and lack of cohesion. He emphasized the need for improvement ahead of upcoming fixtures .
Harry Kane (England Captain): Acknowledged the team’s struggles, noting issues with tempo and aggression. He stressed the importance of unity and learning from the defeat.
Roy Keane (Pundit): Criticized England’s lack of rhythm and questioned the squad’s unity, expressing concern over the team’s direction under Tuchel .
Looking Ahead
England remains at the top of UEFA World Cup Group K qualifiers with nine points. Their next qualifier is scheduled against Andorra at Villa Park on September 6 .
Sources:
- BBC Sport, “Senegal make history with historic first African win against England”
- Reuters, “Senegal become first African team to beat England with 3-1 win in friendly”
- The Athletic, England v Senegal live blog (10 June 2025)
Photo: Arne Müseler, cropped, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, via Wikimedia Commons.
Aerial view of the City Ground beside the River Trent in Nottingham, where Senegal beat England 3-1.
