Experimental England side fails to impress
England 0 - 1 Japan
England’s final home game before the World Cup ended in a disappointing defeat
Author | George B
Stadium | Wembley Stadium
Head coach Thomas Tuchel was without captain and record goalscorer Harry Kane after he picked up a knock in training, and his absence was keenly felt in an attack that lacked a cutting edge.
Kaoru Mitoma finished a sweeping counter-attack in the 23rd minute to secure victory for Japan, who became the first Asian side to beat England.
Phil Foden was deployed in a false nine role
There was no no recognised striker in Tuchel’s starting line-up, and the experiment failed to convince. He lasted less than an hour in the unfamiliar position before being replaced by Dominic Solanke.
Tuchel made 10 changes from Friday’s draw with Uruguay, and the lack of cohesion and fluency was evident throughout.
Japan had already threatened before taking the lead, Mitoma applying a composed finish beyond Jordan Pickford after Cole Palmer lost possession in midfield. The goal brought an end to Pickford’s run of 10 consecutive clean sheets for England.
Elliot Anderson was among the few bright spots, coming close to an equaliser with a curling effort that struck the bar.
Pickford was required to make a sharp near-post save to deny Ritsu Doan a second. Substitute Marcus Rashford then tested goalkeeper Zion Suzuki with a low effort, while Harry Maguire saw a header cleared off the line by Yukinari Sugawara as England applied late pressure, but it proved insufficient.
England struggle to develop a plan b or plan c
In a further sign of England’s late desperation, their attempts to muster a threat descended into a lack of invention, resorting to long balls aimed at substitute Harry Maguire in the hope that his physical presence and height might unsettle an otherwise composed Japan defence.
It was crude and basic, and on this occasion ineffective, although Maguire did see a header cleared off the line by Yukinari Sugawara in one of the few moments of alarm for Japan.
