Time for Thomas Tuchel to tear it down and start again! Winners and losers from England's insipid international break that proved Three Lions are a million miles away from World Cup glory

On more than one occasion at Euro 2024, during another unsuccessful quest to finally win a first men's international trophy since 1966, the finger of blame was pointed squarely at Harry Kane. He dropped too deep they said, he'd lost his sharpness they said. Some went as far as saying he was finished, and that it was time for change and to give someone else a go.

The candidates to step in remain plentiful, but Kane's proved yet again during this international break that he really isn't the problem. Another incredible season at club level that saw him finally end his trophy curse provided further evidence that, in their record goal-scorer, England still possess one of the most lethal finishers in the business.

Granted, he wasn't at his devastating best against either Andorra or Senegal, but the service was severely lacking, to put it mildly. And yet, even feeding off scraps in the second game especially, Kane still managed to score his 72nd and 73rd goals for his country, becoming the first player in England history to score in four games in a row for a new manager. Kane is Tuchel's Mr. Reliable and he remains one of the first names on the teamsheet. One thing he's not is the problem.

If Kyle Walker was clinging onto his international career beforehand, it's surely slipped from his grasp now. It would be wholly unfair to rip Walker to shreds, given the service he's given England over his 96 caps, and, at the peak of his powers, there was no better right-back in European football - and certainly not one who could rival his breakneck recovery speed that became something of a comfort blanket for England fans and all the managers he's worked under.

That legendary pace, though, just isn't there anymore at the age of 35, and Walker's dire performance against Senegal should be the straw that broke the camel's back. Switching off like he did for Ismaila Sarr's equaliser, as he failed to sense the obvious danger as Nicolas Jackson prepared to send over the cross, was simply inexcusable.

Tuchel jumped to the defence of the Manchester City defender in his post-match press conference, as he well might, but he'll be asking for big trouble if Walker remains in his starting XI come the World Cup. Take your pick between Trent Alexander-Arnold and Reece James - and don't rule out Tino Livramento - for the right-back berth, but Walker must now be out of the running.

Rewind only a year or so ago and the thought of BOTH Jack Grealish and Phil Foden, free of any injury issues, being left out of an England squad would've been unimaginable. Pie in the sky. Surely just a printing error. But when Tuchel named his 26-man travelling party for the games against Andorra and Senegal that was the reality - the Manchester City duo were nowhere to be seen, two of the more glaring omissions that also included another Southgate regular in Harry Maguire.

Given the disappointment of City's season, and the lack of meaningful contributions from the aforementioned, it must be said that fans weren't rushing to the German's door with torches and pitchforks. Based on form alone, there were simply more favourable options.

The drab showings in both matches have at least opened the door to Grealish and Foden winning back their places, not only in the squad but perhaps even the starting XI - of which there's surely now only a handful of guaranteed picks. For Grealish, let's be honest, he urgently needs to escape his current situation at City and ensure he's playing far more regularly over the next 12 months. Foden's position at the Etihad is far less terminal, but he won't need to be told that standards must improve. The challenge is on.

As the second half ticked on against Senegal, the ITV cameras kept panning to Ivan Toney, sat emotionless on the England bench. It was obvious why he was becoming the focus - the Three Lions were toiling in a home fixture against a nation ranked 15 places below them in the FIFA rankings and yet, repeatedly, Tuchel turned to other options.

Despite replacing Kane with 59 minutes gone, Al-Ahli striker Toney was overlooked, with Morgan Rogers becoming the most advanced player in a desperate and disjointed system despite the ex-Brentford man being the obvious like-for-like replacement. The 29-year-old was eventually brought on for Myles Lewis-Skelly with with a couple of minutes remaining; it was far too late.

It begs the question 'why'? Why call up Toney, who was an unused sub in Barcelona in game number one of the camp, if there was no real plan to use him, especially when the game was crying out for someone of his abilities.

The forward's prospects in an England shirt really don't look great. With Kane being Tuchel's undisputed leader of the attack, and the likes of Dominic Solanke and Ollie Watkins likely ahead of him in the pecking order - plus the expectation that Chelsea's new signing Liam Delap will soon come into the picture - there's even a possibility that's the last we'll see of Toney in a Three Lions shirt.

What makes matters worse for England is that the competition is getting ever-stronger. A rip-roaring end to the Nations League provided enough evidence that all four of the semi-finalists will be there or thereabouts next summer. Winners Portugal, with what will then be a 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo sensing the ultimate international Last Dance, have a chance, while Spain, inspired by arguably the best player in world football in Lamine Yamal, will be expected to go again.

France, with their myriad of attacking options, are another danger, as are Germany - spearheaded by Florian Wirtz, who will soon be involved in one of the biggest transfers in football history. Throw in Argentina, Brazil and the Netherlands - who put eight past Malta on Tuesday as England toiled in the Nottingham sun - and the Three Lions' chances look bleak, to say the least.

Tuchel won't need telling. Games three and four of his short England tenure so far were a rude awakening to the mountainous task in front of him. It's incredible when you think about it - a team that were four minutes away from taking Spain to extra-time in a European Championship final under a year ago now essentially needs the bulldozers brought in. Tear it down and start again. Of course that's an exaggeration, but judging by the performances in both games against Andorra and Senegal, it's not a million miles from the truth.

England were bereft of ideas in attack, lacked creativity in breaking the lines and their defence was an absolute shambles - all three of Senegal's goals on Tuesday were entirely preventable. It simply shouldn't happen at that level. Roy Keane had a field day in the ITV studio, referencing the players being "lazy" and looking like "they're in Starbucks", and it's difficult to make a case to disagree with him.

After getting so close to glory by reaching two Euros finals in succession, it would be criminal now if England took significant steps backwards. But unless Tuchel finds solutions, and quickly, that's going to be the harsh reality.