England in Crisis? Tuchel's Lions Stumble Badly Against Senegal
One year away from the 2026 World Cup, England’s national team finds itself in an increasingly troubling position. The optimism that followed Thomas Tuchel’s appointment as head coach is rapidly dissolving, replaced by growing frustration and doubt. After a shaky 1-0 win over Andorra, expectations were cautiously optimistic ahead of a tougher test against Senegal. What followed, however, was a 3-1 defeat that has sparked genuine concern among fans and pundits alike.
Tuchel was brought in to inject new life into the team after Gareth Southgate stepped down following England’s defeat in the Euro 2024 final. Yet, despite three wins in early qualifiers, England under Tuchel shows little sign of improvement. If anything, the team looks like it has regressed. The match against Senegal was supposed to provide answers. Instead, it raised more questions.
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England actually took the lead through Harry Kane in the opening minutes, but that was as good as it got. Senegal equalized through Ismaila Sarr, took control with a second from Habib Diarra, and sealed the result with a late third by Cheikh Sabaly. England were outplayed, outthought, and outclassed. The reaction inside the City Ground was fierce – loud jeers, angry chants, and a fanbase that expected more.
Tuchel’s decisions have baffled many. Ten changes were made from the Andorra game, including the recall of Jordan Henderson and starting 35-year-old Kyle Walker, both of whom struggled badly. Roy Keane didn’t mince words on ITV, calling Walker’s defending “lazy” on Senegal’s first goal. Tuchel also gave striker Ivan Toney just a few minutes at the end, despite England chasing the game.
Most troubling is the lack of identity. Under Southgate, England may have been conservative, but they had structure. Tuchel's side, in contrast, seems disjointed. There’s no consistent formation, no settled XI, and no obvious style. Talents like Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer, and Bukayo Saka are being shuffled around without clear roles. Even the ever-reliable Kane seems isolated in this setup, despite scoring in every game under Tuchel so far.
Of course, there is still time. Tuchel has 12 months and more matches ahead to find solutions. Injuries to key defenders like John Stones haven’t helped. But fans are running low on patience, especially when basic tactical errors and uninspired performances dominate the headlines.
Tuchel remains calm in public, urging perspective and patience, noting that “the World Cup is not next week.” But with each poor performance, pressure builds. England is a team with talent to spare—but without direction, that talent risks going to waste. Unless Tuchel can find clarity, cohesion, and courage soon, England’s World Cup journey may be over before it even begins.
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