'No need to panic!' - Thomas Tuchel insists 'frozen' England will bounce back from dismal 'test match' loss to Senegal

The Three Lions followed up an underwhelming 1-0 win over minnows Andorra on Saturday with a dismal 3-1 defeat to Senegal on Tuesday to leave manager Tuchel with plenty of work to do just 12 months before the start of the 2026 World Cup in North America, Canada and Mexico.

England remain in good shape to qualify for the World Cup, with three wins from their first three qualifiers, but were booed off by fans against Andorra and Senegal after putting in the kind of performances that may well have alarm bells ringing. Yet Tuchel insisted after the match he was not too concerned and is confident he can improve his team.

He told reporters: "I'm not sure if we did not deserve a little bit more result-wise. It felt a bit frozen, not active enough for a long time over the match. [But] we lost a test 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% 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 a World Cup season. I think this comes by nature and from there we go."

England defeat's to Senegal was their first ever loss against an African opponent, in their 22nd such match. It was also the first time they had conceded three or more goals in a game against an African team.

England's performances will have given Tuchel plenty to think about over the summer. The Three Lions return to action in September with World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia.