New Era

England 1-3 Senegal (Friendly)

The last time I watched England, ten months ago, Lee Carsley was taking temporary charge of his first game against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin, before the match he sent a member of his coaching staff into the UEFA office where I was stood, to get him a cup of tea, never did I feel more proud of an England Manager. I always start my day with a brew.

Carsley's new look team destroyed the Irish (home and away) playing a scintillating brand of attacking football, following on from England's dismal Euros campaign under Gareth Southgate, where remember, they reached the final, before losing to Spain, often branded 'defensive' and 'pragmatic' was Mr Southgate, having Carsley at the helm, it felt like a new era. Even though it was short, it was sweet, minus one hiccup.

Fast forward to March 2025... Thomas Tuchel's first game in charge against Albania. The German Coach, hired because he's a serial winner, had promised 'exciting football'. A 2-0 win at Wembley was hardly exciting, but better to come? A 3-0 victory over Latvia followed, before Saturday's 1-0 edging of minnows Andorra, ranked 173 in the world.

Tuchel is now under pressure to deliver, a World Cup just a year away, England taking on a Senegal side unbeaten in 23, it might be a friendly, against really tough opponents, but anything but a win will be seen as a disaster, England have never previously lost to an African nation.

The Venue

I'm at the City Ground today, as a fan, not a scout, because I've seen England so often in the past, home and away, near and far, I can't really pass up opportunity to watch them on my doorstep, even if it's £65 a ticket.

England have played in Nottingham just three times previously, in 1897 at Trent Bridge, they beat Ireland 6-0, in 1909 at the City Ground, they beat Wales 2-0, and again in 1941, they beat the Welsh 4-1. The last time they were here, 84 years ago.

A bit has changed since, I suspect, parking, probably more difficult, as I manage to get my car a mile or so away off Musters Road, I'm walking past Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, a bloke on a push bike with a huge speaker on the back of it is playing some rave to get the fans going, there's queues to get in the Trent Bridge Inn as well as all the local eateries as I head down a packed Radcliffe Road, my ticket today in the Clough Stand lower tier, a bit of a walk around the houses from where I parked.

I'm an hour early, so entrance is easy, straight into the kiosk for a steak pie and brew, I sit down in the sun in the tight seats fairly central, the stunning curvature of the stadium roofs, all a bit of miss match, the Bridgford End to my left, with some sporadic Senegal fans up above, the Main Stand opposite, tired looking, small, propped up by posts, the Trent End to my right, delightful, two tiered, the stadium slowly filling as we near kick off, a DJ plays music as you spot Ian Wright and Roy Keane on the pitch doing their pre-game analysis for ITV, a fireworks display and fire show then a bit of a wait for the two teams to come out, Senegal's national anthem then a loud and proud god save the king.

The Game

I'm not expecting high tempo, due to the 'friendly' nature of the game, so am not shocked, when England start knocking it around uneasily between their back four, but am shocked to see that Senegal have already had two chances, before Harry Kane breaks the deadlock, on seven minutes he pokes in after Mendy spills Gordon's effort, Eze starting a move after stealing possession from a Senegalese player.

Anthony Gordon should indeed make it two, he stabs wide from a Kyle Walker cross when it looked easier to score, but Senegal have been the better team, looking dangerous down the flanks, they have pace, confidence, a real good midfield trio in Camara, Gueye and Diarra, Ndiaye out right is giving young Myles Lewis-Skelly a torrid time, whilst Ismaila Sarr on the left is too quick for the ageing Walker. So much so, Crystal Palace winger Sarr beats Walker to the ball to stab home an equaliser after winning a race, he should not have won.

The Score

At half time it's crying out for a few changes to kick the backside of a pedestrian England performance. I've been impressed with Eze, who in a 4-4-2 is alongside Kane in attack, whilst Gallagher and Rice have 'tried' in midfield, Saka has done little, Gordon has lacked service, and behind them, defensively I'm concerned, I've also became irritated, by Myles Lewis-Skelly, who's not passed one ball forward, or indeed ventured past the half way line, in the whole of the first forty-five minutes.

It's more of the same in the second half too, but England shuffle their pack, the home star, Morgan Gibbs-White, the first Nottingham Forest player to play for England at the City Ground, he gets a warm round of applause and a few locals singing his name, he immediately looks to get on the front foot, whilst Morgan Rogers and Curtis Jones are also brought on.

The changes do spark life into the game, but a long ball forward catches England unawares, Lewis-Skelly is out of position, Diarra is running, still running, no-one near him, Chalobah falls over, Diarra by now is inside the box, his only option is to dink home past Henderson to give Senegal the lead.

Unexpected? But deserved? England a goal behind actually come out and play some of their best football, as Eze, delightfully flicks into the path of Gibbs-White who's hard shot is well saved, before Saka, goes close with a low drive turned around the post. Gibbs-White again involved.

England do level, with just a couple of minutes to go, substitute Jude Bellingham the hero, but a lengthy delay leads to the Referee cancelling out the goal after VAR interjection, Levi Colwill alleged to have handled, it was probably the right decision.

And in vein, an injury time free kick by Noni Madueke can't beat the first man, England have sent everyone up, Curtis Jones robbed in possession with his back to goal, Camara is now running, and running, and running, before finding Cheikh Sabaly, he makes it three and there's wild celebrations from up above, the couple of hundred Senegal fans who have been in party mode all night, now have something historic, to celebrate.

England fans exit, to the sound of boos, along with a large rapturous clatter of seats flipping back.

The Stars

Senegal are unbeaten in 24 matches, and after earlier watching former player El Hadji Diouf take selfies with fans ahead of kick off, I wonder if this 'team' is even better than that of 2002, when Diouf's side beat world champions France in the World Cup, Papa Bouba Diop famously scoring the winning goal.

I really like the midfield trio. Idrissa Gueye is a pocket rocket who we all know and love from Everton, who sits in front of the back four and protects, whilst two 21-year-olds, offer legs either side, Lamine Camara of Monaco and Habib Diarra of Strasbourg are both excellent, and will I'm sure go on to very exciting careers.

In attack they offer real threat with pace and dynamism, Iliman Ndiaye was excellent, Ismaila Sarr electric, whilst Nicolas Jackson is a footballer that get's unfair criticism, he's a striker who makes himself chances with hard work, which is a real skill set in the first place.

For England, not many, on the night, would come off the pitch having earned credibility. Goalkeeper Dean Henderson perhaps the best (or busiest) player, which says it all, I actually like both Levi Colwill, and Trevoh Chalobah individually, but as a centre half duo, I don't trust them to keep clean sheets, in full back areas England suffered, but in attack they have plenty of promise. Eberechi Eze was sublime in moments, gliding with deft touches, Anthony Gordon a nuisance when found, very quick and direct, Gibbs-White and Bellingham doing well off the bench, they provide X-Factor, whilst Harry Kane, well without him, you wonder where England would be?

The Verdict

Thomas Tuchel's side now need to 'qualify' for the World Cup in 2026. Andorra (again) and Serbia, in September, next up, the latter fixture in particular, key to who potentially wins the group.

Senegal, well they still need to win their own group and are currently below DR Congo in qualification, but i'll be very surprised if we don't see them in USA, Canada and Mexico, and if they do qualify, as they should, they could certainly have a very good run, in the competition finals.

The Teams

England: Dean Henderson, Kyle Walker, Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwill, Myles Lewis-Skelly (Ivan Toney 88), Bukayo Saka (Noni Madueke 71), Conor Gallagher (Curtis Jones 59), Declan Rice (Jude Bellingham 71), Anthony Gordon (Morgan Gibbs-White 58), Eberechi Eze, Harry Kane (Morgan Rogers 59).

Senegal: Edouard Mendy, Krepin Diatta, Kalidou Koulibaly, Moussa Niakhate, El Hadji Malick Diouf, Habib Diarra (Pape Gueye 71), Idrissa Gueye, Lamine Camara, Iliman Ndiaye, Nicolas Jackson (Boulaye Dia 82), Ismaila Sarr (Cheikh Sabaly 70).

7:45pm Kick Off. Tuesday 10th June 2025, City Ground, Nottingham (26,322).