“It was more than three minutes”

England manager Thomas Tuchel issued a slightly spiky response when asked about Ivan Toney‘s late introduction in Tuesday’s shock 3-1 friendly defeat to Senegal.

The Three Lions were condemned to their first defeat of the Tuchel era at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground, where Senegal also became the first African team to beat the 1966 World Cup winners.

The German once again sided with captain Harry Kane up front, initially a shrewd move as the Bayern Munich talisman struck the opening goal inside just seven minutes.

Kane’s effort saw the 31-year-old set another new England goalscoring record, but Tuchel’s side failed to build on their early breakthrough and were punished by an energetic Senegal side.

Ismaila Sarr capitalised on lackadaisical defending from Kyle Walker to level matters, before Habib Diarra and Cheick Sabaly stunned the home crowd in the second 45 minutes.

Tuchel explains late Toney introduction in Senegal loss

In between Diarra and Sabaly’s strikes, Toney was introduced as England’s sixth and final substitution, replacing Myles Lewis-Skelly in the 88th minute after Curtis Jones, Morgan Gibbs-White, Morgan Rogers, Jude Bellingham and Noni Madueke entered the fray before him.

The Al-Ahli man had just two touches of the ball during his short time on the field – which totalled eight minutes including injury time – after he was an unused substitute in the weekend’s narrow success over Andorra.

Asked by ITV Sport at full time why he only threw Toney on for the “final three minutes”, Tuchel bluntly replied: “It was more than three minutes.

“I think Ivan is a specialist for these situations, we created a lot of chances with Morgan Gibbs-White, Ebs [Eberechi Eze], Morgan Rogers and with Jude [Bellingham] in fluid positions. I think Ivan is the strongest when we have a lot of balls into the box, and that was the case so we got him ready at 80 minutes.”

Just before Toney was sent on for his first England appearance under Tuchel, the Three Lions were on the wrong end of a highly contentious refereeing decision, as a Bellingham leveller was cancelled out owing to a Levi Colwill handball.

Kane hits out at controversial Levi Colwill handball

The ball struck the Chelsea defender’s arm from a corner before landing at Bellingham’s feet, and he was adjudged to have deliberately moved his arm towards the ball by referee Stephanie Frappart following an on-field review.

Captain Kane was understandably peeved at the decision, claiming that Colwill’s perceived handball was not actually handball for those who “know the rules” of the game.

“If you know the rules it’s not handball,” the striker added. “That gets us back in the game and maybe we can go on and win the game, so it’s a big moment. It’s something we will discuss later.”

Three months will pass before England return to men’s international action, as the Three Lions collide with Andorra in their next World Cup 2026 qualifier on September 6, three days before a trip to Serbia.

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