Captain Harry Kane stressed the need for rapid progress as England suffered a 3-1 friendly defeat to Senegal, their first ever loss to African opposition. The result has increased pressure on manager Thomas Tuchel just four games into his tenure.Kane, who scored England’s only goal, said the team lacked their usual aggression and rhythm. Despite recent wins in World Cup qualifiers, he warned that with the tournament only a year away, the squad must quickly adapt and improve.

Tuchel, brought in to guide England beyond recent European final disappointments, faces a transitional phase after Gareth Southgate’s departure. Kane acknowledged new players need time to gain international experience but emphasized no excuses can be made.England currently lead their qualifying group after wins over Albania, Latvia, and Andorra.