Harry Kane has issued a blunt but measured assessment of England’s current form, warning that the team must “find its rhythm quickly” after a 3-1 defeat to Senegal in a friendly — England’s first-ever loss to African opposition.
The match, played in Nottingham, saw England outplayed by a sharp Senegal side, with goals from Ismaila Sarr, Habib Diarra, and Cheikh Sabaly cancelling out Kane’s 73rd international strike.
“Not good enough,” Kane admitted post-match. “We had moments, but things aren’t clicking with or without the ball. We’ve lost that aggressive nature we used to have.”
The defeat adds pressure on Thomas Tuchel, just four games into his reign as England manager. His decision to make 10 changes from the narrow 1-0 win over Andorra in World Cup qualifying did little to spark the team, with England again looking flat and disjointed.
Tuchel was brought in to push England over the line at major tournaments after two near-misses under Gareth Southgate, but the early signs of this new era have been anything but convincing.
Kane, now leading a squad with several new and inexperienced players, emphasized the urgency of the situation with the 2026 World Cup just a year away:
“We’re not going to panic, but we know we need to be better. There are new ideas, and new players coming in who lack experience at this level — but no excuses. Every camp is crucial now.”
Despite the struggles, England sit top of their World Cup qualifying group, having won all three games against Albania, Latvia, and Andorra. But this loss serves as a wake-up call — with Kane warning that time is not on their side if they want to be contenders in North America next summer.
