Thomas Tuchel won’t panic after England suffer shock loss to Senegal

Thomas Tuchel insists there is “no need to panic” despite England suffering a shock 3-1 friendly defeat at home to Senegal a year out from the World Cup.

Among the favourites for glory in North America, the Euro 2024 runners-up received a wake-up call as the German head coach’s honeymoon period came to a crashing end at the City Ground.

England were booed off for the second time in four days as Saturday’s stultifying 1-0 qualification win against minnows Andorra was followed by a first ever loss to African opposition on Tuesday evening.

Harry Kane’s early goal was cancelled out when Ismaila Sarr capitalised on poor defending in Nottingham, where Habib Diarra gave Senegal a deserved lead that substitute Jude Bellingham looked to have cancelled out late on.

But the equaliser was ruled out as Levi Colwill was adjudged to have handled in the build-up and second-half introduction Cheikh Sabaly added gloss just one year and a day until the World Cup gets under way.

Asked if they key message now is not to panic, England head coach Tuchel said: “Yes, 100 per cent. We lost a test (friendly) match so there is no need to panic.

“We have (played) three qualification games, we have nine points and not conceded. We will be competitive in September, and we will go for two more victories – 100 per cent we will.

“We know more now, we are smarter. It’s tough at the moment. I am the first one to dislike and hate losses like nothing else.

“But it’s not next week. We don’t go next week to the World Cup, we go in one year.

“I think by nature it will get more competitive in the nomination process and in the demands for the players to be nominated and to be with us in September, October and November because of the density, because we enter then