England's 2024/25 season ended with a whimper on Tuesday evening as they failed to excite an expectant crowd at the City Ground, falling to a 3-1 defeat against a lively Senegal side full of Premier League experience.
Just days after a narrow World Cup qualifying win against Andorra, the June international window threw up many more questions than answers for Thomas Tuchel and the first unflattering media headlines of his fledgling reign as England boss.
He preached a 'don't panic' message after the Senegal game, believing that the edge of qualifiers in the autumn and the prospect of a World Cup at the end of next season will see the kind of England team emerge that better reflects their new head coach.
"It is a tough learning, but we need to stay calm," he told the BBC after the game.
"We need to accept the criticism and get better."
England's season began in Dublin back in September, under the interim management of Lee Carsley and his Under-21 side provided some cheer later in the week when opening the defence of their European title with a 3-1 victory against the Czech Republic in Slovakia.
Harvey Elliott, Jonathan Rowe and Charlie Cresswell were on the scoresheet with England due to face Slovenia on Sunday in a game shown live on Channel 4.
The BBC website, meanwhile, will broadcast England's Under-19's Euro opener against Norway on Saturday at 3pm.