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By HARRY BAMFORTH and IAN LADYMAN AT THE CITY GROUND and CRAIG HOPE AT THE CITY GROUND and KIERAN GILL AT THE CITY GROUND Published: 03: 01 AEST, 11 June 2025 | Updated: 06: 00 AEST, 11 June 2025 91 View comments Follow Mail Sport's live blog of England's friendly against Senegal as the Three Lions look to sign off the 2024-25 season in style at Nottingham Forest's City Ground.   Well, nothing is happening. I mean nothing. The start of this second half has been rather slow, to say the least. I have nothing to update you on. I really hope that changes soon. Senegal need to work on their time-keeping skills. They keep England waiting once again, for a good couple of minutes, before returning to the pitch. Anyway, they are here at last, and we have gotten going again. Well, this is a mental stat. Senegal had six shots on target in the first half; the most England have faced in the opening half of a game since June 2013 v Brazil at the Maracanã. That just shows how brilliant Senegal were in that first half, and how open England were. Maybe the visitors should feel aggrieved that they are only level? Right, let's rewind to a better time. All looked rosy in the seventh minute when Harry Kane opened the scoring. I mean, how Edouard Mendy spilled that, I do not know, but he did, and Kane pounced. All downhill from there. Well, it was two added minutes in the end. The referee blows her whistle and the England players look rather disappointed as they trudge toward the tunnel. They took the lead early, but Senegal are deservedly level and have been the better side. The City Ground is quite disgruntled. There is going to be just one minute of stoppage time. Saying that, we have been at a standstill for the last 40 seconds, so that may change. The Senegalese supporters have having a party now. That goal has sucked all the joy out of the England fans, but the visiting supporters can't stop singing. Meanwhile, Kyle Walker picks up a yellow - it hasn't been a good few minutes for him. It had been coming. .. Ismaila Sarr is the first player to score against Thomas Tuchel's England, and oh, it's deserved. Nicolas Jackson somehow keeps the ball in and loops a cross into the box. Kyle Walker is asleep, Sarr nips in front of him, and Dean Henderson has no chance. The City Ground is silenced. Senegal are building some momentum again. They are attacking in numbers and the England defence has dropped incredibly deep now. Meanwhile, the fans have just sung God Save The King, but they need to work on being more tuneful. Another important Dean Henderson save. The Crystal Palace man has been put to work tonight, and he makes another stop to deny Idrissa Gana Gueye. The Everton midfielder somehow drills the ball through a bunch of bodies, and it looks to cause Henderson some trouble. But the goalkeeper still gets down and gets a hand to it. I'm starting to see why Chelsea let Edouard Mendy go. The Senegal stopper is having a stinker and his fumble is why England are ahead. And he nearly makes anopther huge boob as he dilly dallies on teh ball with Anthony Gordon approaching. He just about manages to get the ball out of his feet before Gordon steams in. That's harsh. Nicolas Jackson and Levi Colwill have a coming together, with Jackson flopping to the floor. There's no friendship in international football, I see. The play acting manages to convince the referee to hand Colwill a yellow card, somehow. How has that not gone in? Wow. Anthony Gordon can't believe it, and neither can I, or anybody else inside the City Ground. Sitter. Kyle Walker arrows a low ball to the back post where Gordon is steaming in, and he has the goal at his mercy. But somehow he taps the ball wide from three yards out. Crazy. What was I saying again? Since I wrote the last post about how good this game has been, nothing has happened. Yep, zilch, nowt. We have had our first paper aeroplane, though. We may not be at Wembley, but we still get them elsewhere. We certainly do, Ian. I was really worried that I would fall asleep on my keyboard today, but I am not even close to nodding off. The attacking nature of Senegal has opened the game up completely, and it makes for a compelling watch. I can't believe I am about to say this, but I am actually enjoying an international friendly. I know, who'd have thought it? We have our first yellow card of the night. Krepin Diatta gets done by Anthony Gordon down the left, so he just ends up hacking him down. Always a yellow, that. .. even if he is complaining now. Dean Henderson comes up trumps for England. Boy, are Senegal playing well, and if not for the Crystal Palace man in goal they would be level. Henderson's club team-mate Ismaila Sarr gets on the end of a beautiful cross and produces on hell of a header toward the bottom corner. It looks like it's going in, but Henderson does well to get across and deny him. I agree with Craig, Iliman Ndiaye is a baller. Every time he gets on the ball here, you just expect him to produce that little bit of magic. He already has the England defence on strings. I can't lie, before that goal went in, I was about to pop off on England. They haven't started well here, Senegal have been by miles the better side. But eth goal saved them from my wrath. Still, they had better buck up their ideas, Senegal have reacted well to going behind already. Diouf has a pop from distance, but it flies over. HARRY KANE MAKES HISTORY! The England captain becomes the first England player to ever score in all of the first four of a new manager's reign. Senegal have been on top in the early stages, but Eberechi Eze pinches the ball off their midfield, and gets the Three Lions going. The ball is shifted to Anthony Gordon, who has his shot stopped by Edouard Mendy, but the ball rolls straight into the path of Kane and he taps home. That's exactly what England needed. Ohhh, that's a decent chance for Senegal. The visitors have been on top here, so far, and Iliman Ndiaye shows why many call him twinkle toes. He dances to the left, then the right, and slides through Nicolas Jackson inside the area. Jackson tries to arrow the ball across Dean Henderson, but the keeper does well to beat the ball away. That's a warning shot, if I have ever seen one. Man onnnnn. Sorry, that's just what I would have shouted toward Harry Kane if I were on the pitch. He doesn't look to his left as he tries to race away and ends up losing the ball. Is it bad to say I am already bored? I'm joking, I'm joking. .. It's only been two minutes, so I'm not allowed to say that yet. England haven't had a good start, mind. One pass through the England midfield and all of a sudden Senegal are on the front foot. Idrissa Gana Guye has a pop at the end of a decent move, but Dean Henderson is equal to it. Better late than never. We are finally underway here at the City Ground, but I have a bone to pick with the fans. Some of the England fans could be heard booing as the Senegal national anthem came on. What are they doing? Where is their respect? You just don't do that. Come on, lads. .. we have a game to play. Senegal are over three minutes late in leaving their dressing room, which means kick-off will be delayed. The Three Lions have been made to wait, and there is not a single player who looks happy about it. While we were waiting, we were treated to a cheeky fireworks show, so it's not all bad. Anyway, they are here now, and eventually both sets of players emerge from the tunnel and into the sunshine. It's nearly go-time. Kyle Walker, England defender, on ITV: Guys, the wait is nearly over. As I type this, the players are just polishing off their final preparations before heading back to the dressing rooms. What I can tell you is that Harry Kane is looking sharp, very sharp. Expect him to bag one tonight. If he does. .. he will create history by becoming the first player to score in the first four matches of a new manager's reign. He has scored in Thomas Tuchel's first three. .. can he make it four? Thomas Tuchel, England boss, speaking to ITV: On Levi Colwill and Trevoh Chalobah starting: If I were an England fan, I'd be confident. Now, I know watching the Three Lions hasn't exactly been fun recently, but believe me, the stats show that today should be OK. England have never lost in 21 matches against African opposition (W15 D6), winning their only previous meeting with Senegal 3-0 in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Meanwhile, Senegal have won just one of their last seven matches against European nations (D3 L3), beating Poland 2-1 at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. All roads lead to an England win. I bet you recognise a lot of these names. Sorry for the Senegal line-up taking so long to come out, but they didn't release a graphic. Sacrilege, I know. Anyway, as you can see, Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson will start up[ top, while Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr is on the wing. There is NO Sadio Mane. Senegal starting XI: E Mendy, Koulibaly, Gueye, Diarra, Jackson, Camara, I Ndiaye, Siatta, Sarr, Niakhate, E Diouf. Subs: Y Diouf, Camara Mamadou, Seck, Dia, Sabaly, C Ndiaye, Jakobs, Niasse, I Gueye, Sima, Diaw, A Mendy, P Gueye This is why international fixtures are so great. I mean, when are you ever going to go to a Premier League game and see face paint? Never, right? Well, very rarely. Look, even a bald fella has painted a St. George's cross on his head. It's just class. Could leave some odd tan lines, mind. Dean Henderson deserves this. Now, this may be recency bias, but you could easily argue he is England's best keeper at the moment. I say that with caution because I know how brilliant Pickford is, and has been for England, but the form Henderson was in at the end of the season was simply silly. This is only his third cap for England, which is mental. That just shows how hard it has been to nudge Pickford from the starting spot. Can Henderson show enough to make the spot his? Well, there we go. Trevoh Chalobah does indeed make his Three Lions debut as Thomas Tuchel starts him alongside fellow Blues defender Levi Colwill. Overall, the German has made ten changes with just Harry Kane keeping his spot in the side. What do you make of the team? Right guys, it's nearly time for the team news. Who will Thomas Tuchel pick? he said there would be a lot of changes, but we do know that Harry Kane will captain the team. Maybe Trevoh Chalobah will get a chance? Tuchel loved him while at Chelsea, but we will have to wait and see. Not my best sub-heading, is it? Anyway, England have arrived at the City Ground and they all seem in fairly high spirits. Well, apart from Reece James. .. cheer up, fella. Maybe he isn't starting, and he is just miffed about that. Or maybe he is just in the zone. Who knows. OK, OK. .. is this a sign? England have plonked Morgan Gibbs-White on the programme cover because the game is being played at the City Ground. Surely, Thomas Tuchel should just start him; he deserves it. Bukayo Saka, England winger, on boss Thomas Tuchel: Well, we already know one of England's starters tonight. Thomas Tuchel was pretty tight-lipped about the team yesterday, until it came to Bukayo Saka, anyway. The England boss just flat-out admitted that he will be starting. Saka is yet to play under the Tuchel regime, so it will be interesting to see how he fares on the right. Knowing how good he is, he will probably shine, won't he? I hope he does, we could do with some of his skills to entertain us. Morgan Gibbs-White, England midfielder, on playing at the City Ground: There is one man who will be desperate to pull on the Three Lions shirt this evening. That man is Morgan Gibbs-White. Why would he be more desperate than anybody else? I mean, come on, I think you know why. Gibbs-White is a hero in Nottingham; this is his home. The midfielder shines here every fortnight for Forest, and his performances at the City Ground are the reason he has the opportunity to play for England. He came on as a substitute against Andorra, but tonight could be the night he gets the nod from the start. I mean, Thomas Tuchel did say he would make a lot of changes. .. So, why is this game being played at the City Ground? Well, the answer is pretty simple. Concerts. Lots and lots of concerts. This is the time of year when Wembley becomes the home of many of the best artists from around the globe. In just over a weeks time, Dua Lipa will be belting out One Kiss and Liverpool fans will be wishing they were there. I mean, it's a class song - I saw her sing it at Glastonbury last year and I loved it. Anyway, that's why the Three Lions can't use it. Isn't it nice to be seeing England play at a different venue for once? This is how it should be. The Three Lions always used to tour the country, playing games in various grounds, but we rarely see that now. But thankfully, today, England have ventured away from north London. The City Ground is the perfect stadium for a game like this; it's full of life and will be bouncing come kick-off, even if this is a friendly. A lovely day for it, too. Thomas Tuchel, England boss, speaking on Tuesday: I mean, they need to. Thomas Tuchel was brought in for quick results and to bring home the World Cup. Well, the competition is now just a year away, and the Three Lions look further away from winning the thing than they have in some time. Boy, some of the footie that has been on display has sent me to sleep. Honestly, I reckon having a conversation with a brick wall at a boozer outside the City Ground would be more fun. Yes, you'd look weird, but still. Tuchel himself has admitted 'impatience' at how slowly the players are adapting to his style, which is usually quite exciting, and the fans feel the same way. The performance against Andorra was abysmal. To only scrape past a side who are as low as 173rd in the world rankings is pretty poor, to say the least. Tuchel really needs things to click tonight. Ohhhh, it's good to be back. Yes, I know that England played the other night and there has been lots of other football on, but I've been taking some time away from blogging. But here I am, back on the live coverage. It may only be a friendly, but Thomas Tuchel's side have a bit of pressure on them as they face Senegal tonight. I mean, it's not like they have been lighting the pitch up with their footie recently. It's only Tuchel's fourth game in charge, but he already has his critics and will want to prove them wrong. Can he do that at the City Ground tonight? We are about to find out. So, let's get this show on the road, shall we? No one has a right to play just because they turne. ..

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