England’s final home game before the World Cup ended in a disappointing defeat as they were beaten by Japan in a friendly at Wembley.
Head coach Thomas Tuchel was without captain and all-time record goalscorer Harry Kane after he suffered a knock in training, and his worth was once again illustrated by England’s lack of threat.
Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma finished off a sweeping counter-attack in the 23rd minute to give Japan victory as they became the first Asian team to beat England.
Phil Foden was used in a false nine role, with no recognised striker in Tuchel’s team, but the experiment did not come off, as he lasted less than an hour in an unfamiliar role before being replaced by Dominic Solanke.
Tuchel fielded a starting line-up with 10 changes from Friday’s draw against Uruguay, and how that showed in a performance that lacked cohesion and fluency.
Japan had already threatened before they took the lead, Mitoma sending a precise finish past Jordan Pickford after Cole Palmer conceded possession in midfield.
It ended a run of 10 successive clean sheets with England for Pickford.
Elliot Anderson was one of the few England players to impress, almost equalising with a curling shot that hit the bar.
Japan were far superior, though, and it took a smart near-post save from Pickford to stop Ritsu Doan doubling their lead.
Substitute Marcus Rashford did test Japan keeper Zion Suzuki with a low shot, while Harry Maguire had a header cleared off the line by Yukinari Sugawara as England applied some belated pressure, but it was to no avail.
England analysis: Tuchel’s side look lost without Kane
England’s friendlies against Uruguay and Japan were billed as a ‘Send-Off Series’, being their final games on home soil ahead of the World Cup.
Tuchel’s side did indeed a get a send-off – but not the sort they wanted as they were booed by fans inside Wembley at the end of this defeat against Japan.
England could have few complaints as Japan, rated 18th in the Fifa rankings, were by far the sharper side until the latter stages, when the introduction of a recognised striker in Dominic Solanke at least gave the home team some shape.
It was not enough to force a draw, with this and the 1-1 result against Uruguay amounting to an unsatisfactory return from a largely experimental international camp.
Cole Palmer played in the number 10 role but struggled, and there was no joy for Foden, who has had an unfulfilling two games.
Anderson at least showed why he will start England’s first World Cup game against Croatia in June, but the big takeaway was again the concern about how Tuchel’s side shape up without Harry Kane’s cutting edge.
Possible deputies Solanke and Calvert-Lewin have not stepped up yet, while the Foden experiment looked exactly that.
This will not be news to Tuchel – but he and England’s supporters must hope nothing happens to Kane because they look a side in reduced circumstances without him.
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