Roy Keane fired both barrels at Kyle Walker as he called out the England star for being “lazy” during the friendly 3-1 defeat to Senegal. He accused the AC Milan loanee of being at fault for Ismaila Sarr’s equalising goal just before half-time. Harry Kane gave the hosts the lead at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground, but the Three Lions were pegged back after 40 minutes.
In a positive end to the first half for the visitors, a ball was played over the top and flicked back across goal, where Sarr beat Walker to the ball and blasted a shot past Dean Henderson. The Manchester City man laid back on the floor as Sarr wheeled away in celebration.
Keane led the calls slamming Walker for his role in the goal, telling ITV: “You know what, if this is a young right-back Sam [Matterface] coming into the game, you are thinking inexperience. But do you know what I think, people will say it’s a lack of concentration, I think he is being lazy. I think he is being lazy here.
“He is a vastly experienced player who can’t be bothered getting back in. As you know, tell defenders to get back in, and if it comes in you are ready for it. He is just on his heels, he almost can’t be bothered to get back.
“I know he has had a difficult few months but for a vastly experienced player, you can’t be making mistakes like that.”
He then wanted more from goalkeeper Henderson, insisting that the Crystal Palace man should have confronted Walker even though the 35-year-old is one of the most senior players in the squad.
“He [Henderson] should also show maturity once the goal goes in, putting the mans on people,” Keane continued. “We mentioned that before the game, standards in the group. He should be looking at Walker, as experienced as Walker is, saying: ‘Why aren’t you getting back in?’ Start pointing fingers, put the mans on people.
“Every time I watch England going back over the last few games I just think they can do a lot more. It’s as if they are waiting to concede a goal and wait for a setback. Saying that [Anthony] Gordon should score. If he scores you are 2-0 up, so you have got Gordon not scoring, Walker making mistakes, so ultimately there are question marks over some of these players.”
Matters were made worse for England after a similar ball over the back four ended up with Habib Diarra poking the ball past Henderson to take the lead. Cheikh Sabaly put the finishing touches on the win in stoppage time.
Tuchel made 10 changes from the joyless victory over Andorra for the visit of Senegal, with just captain Kane keeping his place in the team.
Walker came back in at a time when his place in the squad has been questioned, with the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Reece James and Tino Livramento as competition.