England 1-3 Senegal: Landmark defeat with emotional storm in Bellingham

In the early morning of June 11, England ushered in an international football warm-up match with Senegal at the city football stadium. This match, which was originally regarded as the Three Lions' drill lineup, was finally frozen with a score of 1-3 as a historic defeat - not only ending England's unbeaten record against African teams in 21 games, but also made coach Tuchel suffer the first defeat in coaching. Real Madrid midfielder Bellingham's move to kick the water dispenser and chase the fourth official after the goal was cancelled became the focus of public opinion after the game.

1. Match progress: Dream start and black reversal

The game started in just 7 minutes, and England took the lead through high pressure pressing. Gordon's low shot from the left side of the penalty area was saved by Mendy, and Kane scored a quick follow-up shot, continuing his hot state of scoring five consecutive national team goals. The goal also allowed Kane to surpass Saudi legend Majid Abdullah with 73 goals and rose to 15th place in the global men's football national team scorer list.

However, Senegal's toughness appears in the 40th minute. Nicholas Jackson broke through on the right and made a cross from the backward triangle, and Ismaila Sal scored a shot from the front point to equalize the score. The storm changed suddenly in the second half. In the 62nd minute, Senegal took advantage of the gap on England's defense and overtook it with Habib Diyala. Although Bellingham scored a goal in the 84th minute, VAR intervened and decided that Colewell's handball was ahead and the goal was invalid. In stoppage time, Senegal then secured the victory by counterattacking, and finally won 3-1 away.

2. Tactical Game: England's imbalance and Senegal's precision

Tuchel used the three-center-back system in this game, but the loopholes on the defensive end were fully exposed under Senegal's rapid counterattack. Data shows that England's pass success rate is only 76%, while Senegal has reached 82%. Especially in the second half, Senegal teared up the England defense line many times through Culibali's long pass and Diyala's interlude. The 5-3-2 defensive counterattack system launched by Senegal's head coach Cise is textbook-level. The five-back formation compressed Kane's activity space, while the wing attacks between Saar and Jacquesson made the English wingback run away. Goalkeeper Edward Mendy contributed six key saves, with Gibbs White's close shot in the 65th minute, becoming the key to the team's victory.

In contrast, England's leading tactical adjustments appear conservative. It wasn't until the 88th minute that Ivan Tony was replaced and missed the opportunity to equalize. Tuchel admitted after the game that the team played more smoothly when they were behind, but the first two goals conceded "too easy".

3. Historical significance: England's first defeat in Africa

This loss broke England's unbeaten golden body against African teams since 1990. In the previous 21 matches, the Three Lions remained unbeaten with 15 wins and 6 draws, and were not even scored 3 goals in a single game by African teams. This defeat was not only a shame in the score, but also exposed England's psychological vulnerability under defensive counterattack and high pressure.

Senegal extended his unbeaten record to 23 games with this victory, surpassing Spain to become the world's longest unbeaten national team. This achievement not only demonstrates the rise of African football, but also injects a heart-warming agent into the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

4. Bellingham's controversy: From Heroes to Storm Center

Bellingham started and played the whole game in this game, contributing 4 key passes and 3 steals. But the 84th minute goal was cancelled as a turning point. Slow-motion replay showed that Colewell's hand touched the ball closer to his shoulder, but referee Flapat still judged that the handball was fouled. This penalty aroused strong dissatisfaction among the English generals. Kane said bluntly after the game, "This is a mistake", while Tuchel believed that "it was more like a shoulder touch."

Bellingham, who was out of control, rushed to the linebacker to protest after the final whistle, then angrily kicked the sideline water dispenser and chased the fourth official. Captain Kane had to pull him back to the court to greet the fans. This scene quickly became a hot search on Twitter, becoming the second time he caused controversy over similar behaviors after the 2024 European Cup final. At the time, he kicked the bench tank after losing 1-2 to Spain in England and refused to attend the award ceremony.

This season, Bellingham made 52 appearances at Real Madrid, contributing 14 goals and 13 assists, continuing the performance of the top midfielder. But frequent emotional fluctuations have become a hidden worry in his career. The Daily Mail pointed out that he needs to learn to control his emotions and avoid repeating the mistakes of "bad boy".

5. Post-match aftermath: Disagreements between generals and public opinion storm

Tuheer emphasized at the post-match press conference that "this is a test match, no panic is needed", but Kane's public statements hint at tactical issues. The captain blamed the loss in part on the referee and rhythm control without mentioning the coaching arrangements. This "off-line" triggered concerns about cracks in the locker room. The media focuses on England's tactical shortcomings. The Guardian pointed out that the loopholes in the three central defenders' system when facing vertical straight passes and the problem of insufficient bench depth needs to be solved urgently. Senegal's victory was praised by the Team News as "the victory of African football", and its tactical execution and team spirit have become a model.

Bellingham's behavior once again sparked discussions about sportsmanship. The Sun criticized it for "lack of professional qualities", while the Marca called on Real Madrid to strengthen psychological counseling for players. In fact, this is not the first time he has lost control due to the penalty dispute - in the 2024 European Cup group stage, he was investigated by UEFA discipline for provoking his opponent after scoring a goal.

Lessons and Revelations

This match sounds the alarm bell for England. As the World Cup qualifiers approach, the team needs to solve the problems of defensive stability and psychological stress resistance. Although Tuchel's tactical system achieved three consecutive victories in the early stage, its ability to adjust when facing high-intensity opponents still needs to be tested.

For Bellingham, how to transform emotions into motivation is the key to his growth into a leader. As he said after the 2024 European Cup: "Losses will make us stronger." Perhaps this setback is an opportunity for him to transform from a talented teenager to a mature superstar.

And Senegal's victory proves to the world the rise of African football. From Mane to Sal, from Kulibali to Mendy, they write their own chapters with perseverance and tactical execution. This game is not only a victory in the score, but also a victory in the spirit of African football.