England vs Senegal Stats: Head-to-Head Record & Match Analysis

England football fans know that sinking feeling when a flawless record comes undone. On 10 June 2025, Senegal became the first African team to beat England in 22 matches, handing Thomas Tuchel his first defeat as manager in a 3-1 friendly at Nottingham’s City Ground. This article breaks down exactly how the match unfolded, what the result means for England’s squad depth, and where things stand with World Cup 2026 qualifying.

Total matches played: 2 ·
England wins: 1 ·
Senegal wins: 1 ·
Last match result: England 1-3 Senegal (10 June 2025) ·
Biggest England win: 3-0 (4 December 2022) ·
Biggest Senegal win: 3-1 (10 June 2025)

Here are the key match details at a glance.

Who won England v Senegal today?

Senegal won the match. The final score was England 1-3 Senegal on 10 June 2025, a friendly played at the City Ground in Nottingham. The result also marked Thomas Tuchel’s first loss as England head coach (England Football (Official FA)).

What was the final score?

• Harry Kane gave England the lead in the 7th minute after Édouard Mendy spilled the ball (ESPN (international sports broadcaster)).
• Ismaïla Sarr equalized for Senegal in the 40th minute, catching Kyle Walker out of position (ESPN (international sports broadcaster)).
• Habib Diarra put Senegal ahead in the 62nd minute, firing through Dean Henderson’s legs (ESPN (international sports broadcaster)).
• Cheikh Sabaly sealed the win in the 93rd minute, deep into stoppage time (England Football (Official FA)).
• Jude Bellingham had a late goal disallowed for a handball in the build-up (ESPN (international sports broadcaster)).

How did the match unfold?

England started brightly and took an early lead through Kane. But Senegal grew into the game, equalizing before half-time and taking control after the break. The stats tell the story: England had 60.7% possession (Sky Sports (UK sports broadcaster)), yet Senegal registered 11 total shots to England’s 8 (Sky Sports (UK sports broadcaster)). Thomas Tuchel later admitted his team were second best.

What are the head-to-head stats?

Two matches across all competitions, one win each — dead level.

• 4 December 2022: England 3-0 Senegal (FIFA World Cup round of 16) (England Football (Official FA)).
• 10 June 2025: England 1-3 Senegal (Friendly) (England Football (Official FA)).
• Aggregate record across both matches: goals scored 4-3 in England’s favour (England Football (Official FA)).

Why is John Stones not in the England squad?

John Stones withdrew from the England squad due to a muscle injury (England Football (Official FA)). The England squad update confirmed his absence, leaving a gap in central defence for this friendly. A replacement was called up to fill the vacancy.

What injury does John Stones have?

The exact nature and severity of John Stones’ muscle injury was not disclosed in the official squad announcement. He was omitted from the matchday squad entirely.

Who replaced John Stones in the squad?

The name of the player called up to replace Stones was not specified in the available match details.

How does this affect England’s defense?

Stones has been a central figure in England’s back line for years. His absence forced Tuchel to experiment with alternative defensive partnerships in a match where Senegal’s attackers repeatedly exploited gaps. The defensive fragilities shown — especially on the counter — are a concern for the competitive matches ahead.

Is England v Senegal a friendly match?

Yes. The match on 10 June 2025 was a friendly international (England Football (Official FA)). The last time these teams faced each other in a competitive fixture was the 2022 FIFA World Cup round of 16, where England won 3-0 (England Football (Official FA)).

Why was the match held in Nottingham?

The match was held at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground. Friendly venues are often chosen to bring international football to different cities across England, allowing fans outside London to see the national team play. Nottingham has a strong footballing pedigree.

What is the significance of a friendly match?

Friendly matches allow managers to test new tactics and player combinations without the pressure of a competitive result. They are also used to build team cohesion and evaluate fringe players.

When was the last time England and Senegal played competitively?

The last competitive match was the 2022 FIFA World Cup round of 16 on 4 December 2022, which England won 3-0 (England Football (Official FA)).

Why this matters: A friendly result rarely defines a team’s fortunes. But a first defeat to an African side in 22 games — and Tuchel’s first loss — signals that England’s depth may not be as strong as the lineup suggests.

How did England lose against Senegal?

Senegal won 3-1. Senegal scored in the first half through Sarr and added two more after the break (Diarra and Sabaly). England’s goal came from a second-half strike by Kane. England’s defence was exposed on counter-attacks, and Thomas Tuchel admitted his team were second best.

What was the scoreline?

England 1-3 Senegal.

Who scored for Senegal?

• Ismaïla Sarr (40th minute) (ESPN (international sports broadcaster))
• Habib Diarra (62nd minute) (ESPN (international sports broadcaster))
• Cheikh Sabaly (93rd minute) (England Football (Official FA))

Who scored for England?

• Harry Kane (7th minute) (ESPN (international sports broadcaster))

What went wrong for England?

• Defence was caught out on counter-attacks, especially for Sarr’s equaliser when Kyle Walker was out of position (ESPN (international sports broadcaster)).
• Despite dominating possession (60.7%) England created fewer chances than Senegal (Sky Sports (UK sports broadcaster)).
• A goal was disallowed for handball, denying England a potential equaliser late on (ESPN (international sports broadcaster)).
• Dean Henderson, making a rare start, was beaten three times including one through his legs (ESPN (international sports broadcaster)).

Have England qualified for the World Cup 2026?

No. England have not yet qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup (England Football (Official FA)). Qualifying begins in 2025 and will be managed by Thomas Tuchel. The fixtures were announced by UEFA.

What are England’s World Cup 2026 qualifying fixtures?

The specific qualifying fixtures and opponents had not yet been fully confirmed in the available inputs. UEFA announced the schedule for European qualifying groups, with matches taking place across 2025 and 2026.

When does qualifying start?

European qualifying for the 2026 World Cup begins in 2025.

Who are England’s opponents?

England’s qualifying group includes several European nations. The exact group composition was not detailed in the available match notes.

The trade-off: A friendly loss to Senegal does not affect qualifying standings. But it highlights the squad issues Tuchel must resolve before competitive fixtures begin — especially defensive solidity and attacking creativity against low-block, counter-attacking teams.

Confirmed facts vs what’s unclear

Frequently asked questions