The Three Lions currently boast a perfect 100% record in their World Cup qualifying group (Group K), sitting atop the table with nine points from three successive wins. Thomas Tuchel, in his short tenure, has won all three of his competitive games in charge of England. A victory against Senegal would see him join an exclusive club of managers, becoming only the third ever England manager, alongside Walter Winterbottom and Sven-Goran Eriksson, to win each of their first four games.
However, the recent 1-0 victory over Andorra in Barcelona, where Harry Kane scored the only goal, was described as a “laboured display” and “far from easy on the eye”. England was even jeered off at halftime after failing to score against the 173rd-ranked team.
Manager Thomas Tuchel was highly critical of his team’s performance, expressing his displeasure with their “lack of urgency,” “lack of attitude,” and a general “lack of seriousness” towards the World Cup qualifier. He noted that the team “lost the rhythm and precision and also the energy to be more decisive. Star striker Harry Kane admitted it wasn’t a memorable performance and acknowledged they “need to be better for sure”.
Despite the criticism, there are positives to build on. Noni Madueke, who assisted Kane’s goal, stood out with a “very mature performance” and was described as a “constant threat”. He also felt there were “good parts of the performance” and “it’s not all doom and gloom”.
Senegal: A Formidable Unbeaten Force
Senegal, known as the “Lions of Teranga,” will present a significantly tougher challenge than Andorra. They arrive at the City Ground in impressive form, being unbeaten in their last 23 matches across all competitions, a streak that dates back to a 1-0 friendly loss to Algeria in September 2023. Their recent outing saw them draw 1-1 with the Republic of Ireland, with Ismaila Sarr netting a late equalizer.
Senegal boasts a squad “packed with talent from top European leagues”. Key players such as Iliman Ndiaye, Idrissa Gueye, Ismaila Sarr, Nicolas Jackson, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Edouard Mendy are expected to feature prominently, with many of them having been rested or benched against Ireland. Notably, former Liverpool star Sadio Mane will not be part of the Senegal squad for this friendly due to personal reasons.
Head-to-Head and Historical Significance
This will be only the second meeting between England and Senegal. Their sole previous encounter was in the Round of 16 at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where England secured a comfortable 3-0 victory. Goals from Jordan Henderson, Harry Kane, and Bukayo Saka sealed England’s passage on that occasion. For Senegal, this match carries an “elan de revanche” or a sense of revenge after that World Cup defeat.
Historically, England has an outstanding record against African opposition, having never lost in 21 matches (15 wins, 6 draws). In contrast, Senegal has won just one of their last seven matches against European nations.
Team News and Players to Watch
For England, manager Thomas Tuchel is expected to “ring the changes” to his starting lineup, giving opportunities to more players. Bukayo Saka is confirmed to feature after being rested against Andorra due to a minor strain. Other players who could start include Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ivan Toney, Trevoh Chalobah, Anthony Gordon, and Myles Lewis-Skelly. Ollie Watkins remains out due to injury. Harry Kane, fresh from scoring his 72nd international goal against Andorra, will aim to continue his scoring streak under Tuchel.
Senegal’s Pape Thiaw is also likely to shuffle his pack, bringing in the aforementioned key players who were rested. Keep an eye on Ismaila Sarr, who has been directly involved in seven goals (4 goals, 3 assists) in his last seven games for club and country and scored against Ireland.
Match Outlook and Betting Insights
While England are strong favorites for this friendly, the match is anticipated to be a tight affair. Some predictions suggest England to win to nil, given their impressive defensive record under Tuchel (six consecutive wins with five clean sheets). However, others foresee a more modest scoreline, with under 2.5 goals being a popular bet, especially considering Senegal’s defensive solidity (eleven of their last twelve games have seen fewer than three goals). The City Ground itself has a history of low-scoring England matches, with England having never lost a game there.
This friendly provides Tuchel with a crucial opportunity to refine his “different ideas and a different identity” for the team ahead of tougher challenges in the World Cup qualifiers. It’s a chance for players to impress the new manager and for England to end this international window on a high note with a more convincing performance. The stage is set for an intriguing encounter between two nations with strong ambitions!
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