2 hours ago
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It is not a question that Thomas Tuchel wants to entertain at the World Cup this summer but one he had a run at here in what was supposed to be England’s grand Wembley sendoff. Can the team thrive against good opposition without Harry Kane? The answer was played out across an increasingly frustrating 90 minutes. It was no.
It was not all about Kane, who missed out because of a sore foot. But it was easy to conflate England’s lack of cutting edge with his absence. Tuchel had highlighted the poor goal returns from his other attacking players on Monday. They needed to bring more to the party. There was only bluntness.
England had a late flurry, threatening from corners mainly after Harry Maguire and Dan Burn were sent on as substitutes. It was primitive but, hey, if it works. There was nowhere near enough from the team as a creative force in open play, the problems individual and structural.
In Kane’s absence, Tuchel started with Cole Palmer and Phil Foden as twin No 10s in a 4-2-4 system. It did not work. England lacked penetration in the final third and there were never any runners in behind. Japan were comfortable.
Jordan Pickford conceded for the first time at international level since October 2024 when he was beaten by Kaoru Mitoma midway through the first half; the goalkeeper’s incredible run stopped at 922 minutes. And Japan got the victory over the line in the closing stages.
Tuchel has played three nations that are ranked in Fifa’s top 20; each time in friendlies. There was the 3-1 loss at the end of last season to Senegal, who are No 14, before Friday’s 1-1 draw against Uruguay (No 17). Now this, against 18th-placed Japan. The England fans who stayed until the final whistle – and there were a good number of empty seats – booed with feeling.
It was always likely to be a difficult international break, one dominated by withdrawals and load-management issues. Nevertheless, the team that conquered all in World Cup qualification – albeit in a kind group – are limping to the finals.
Tuchel started with Morgan Rogers on the right wing, Anthony Gordon on the left; Palmer and Foden as a mobile if unorthodox partnership at the sharp end of things. There was a zip about England at the outset, plenty of smart little triangles. This is what happens when you load the lineup with technicians. And yet it was hard not to see the flipside, the vulnerability out of possession, when Japan stormed up the middle to score.
The goal was all about Mitoma. He started the move by nicking the ball off Palmer, he drove it with a surge past the flat-footed Kobbie Mainoo and he finished it after getting a low return pass from Keito Nakamura on the left. Japan worked it slickly after Mitoma had forced the turnover, getting him up and away.
England had gone close at a 12th-minute corner, Palmer, Gordon and Marc Guéhi, who captained the team, seeing shots blocked in quick succession. There was the moment shortly after Mitoma’s breakthrough when Elliott Anderson jinked inside and shaped a lovely curler against the crossbar. Anderson was positive.
It felt more reflective of England’s toils when Nico O’Reilly stood up a cross from the left for Foden in the middle on 36 minutes. He was well-placed in front of goal but never likely to jump high enough to make the header count. The damage at the interval could have been heavier. Mainoo struggled and when he played a loose pass in the 42nd minute, Kaishu Sano sent Ayase Ueda through. The shot took a slight deflection off Ezri Konsa and came back off the crossbar.
There was plenty to like about Japan in their 3-4-2-1 formation. The movement, the comfort in possession. And, most importantly, how they massed men around the ball when England had it. Tuchel’s team found no gaps.
Japan threatened after the restart, looking to expose O’Reilly’s weakness to the long diagonal over his shoulder. Ritsu Doan got away from him and it needed a smart save from Pickford at the near post to deny him. Japan had other flickers, including when Nakamura curled just past the far corner in the 69th minute.
Tuchel made numerous changes and wondered if any of the substitutes could save the day. Marcus Rashford drew a save out of Zion Suzuki after a corner and Maguire, with his first touch after coming on, butted a header goalwards following another one. Yukinari Sugawara, another replacement, headed off the line.
There was more. Lewis Hall worked Suzuki with a low drive after Maguire had caused more problems in the area and at the very last, after yet another corner, Burn put himself about and Rogers blazed high. It was the big chance and an equally big miss. Tuchel has plenty to ponder.
