England 0-1 Japan: Three Lions suffer defeat in final match before World Cup squad named | Football


England fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Japan in what is their final match before Thomas Tuchel names his squad for the World Cup.

The Three Lions were hoping for an improved performance after their 1-1 draw with Uruguay last Friday but were again poor in front of their home fans.

Cole Palmer’s mistake was capitalised on by the visitors, with Keita Nakamura squaring it for Kauro Mitoma who slotted home past Jordan Pickford.

England were without Harry Kane due to injury, and struggled without their captain’s presence up front as Palmer, Phil Foden, Morgan Rogers and Anthony Gordon flattered to deceive in attacking areas.

Tuchel rung the changes in the second half, but Harry Maguire and Marcus Rashford saw both of their efforts denied by Zion Suzuki before Rogers blazed over late on.

Relive all the action from Wembley with Metro’s LIVE matchday blog below:

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Metro at the Match: England 0-1 Japan

Metro sport reporter breaks down the talking points from Wembley:

That’s all for this evening

Well, not the way England would have wanted their last match on home soil before the World Cup to end.

Plenty of work to do for the Three Lions, but that is all from us tonight. Thanks for tuning in!

FULL-TIME: England 0-1 Japan

And Japan hold on for a historic first win against England. The visitors scored through Mitoma in the first and were more than good value for their victory.

Plenty of questions to be asked of England, though, who were poor for large swathes of that encounter. A lot for Tuchel to ponder over the next couple of months before he announces his World Cup squad.

England 0-1 Japan

90 mins: Four minutes of added time.

England 0-1 Japan

89 mins: SAVE! Hall almost catches Suzuki out at the near post, but his fierce left-footed effort is well-saved.

Another chance from the corner, but Rogers, this time, blazes over the bar when the rebound falls his way.

England 0-1 Japan

88 mins: Plenty of England fans have seen enough and are beginning to trickle towards the exit. Can you blame them?

England 0-1 Japan

83 mins: CHANCE! Almost an immediate impact from Maguire, who gets on the corner and forces a good save from Suzuki with his first touch of the game.

England 0-1 Japan

82 mins: And England make another two changes of their own as Guehi and Konsa come off for Burn and Maguire. The latter is met with a particularly warm welcome from the home fans.

England 0-1 Japan

80 mins: Three more changes for Japan as Kamada, Junya Ito and Nakamura are replaced by Sugawara, Suzuki and Machino.

England 0-1 Japan

77 mins: England recycle a corner, and it’s Solanke’s header which falls into the path of Rashford.

The Barcelona forward takes it first time, but Suzuki parries away before Bowen fires wide with an acrobatic effort on the rebound.

England 0-1 Japan

71 mins: More changes for England as Mainoo and Gordon make way for Garner and Rashford. Japan with changes as well as Tanaka and Suzuki come on for Doan and the goalscorer Mitoma.

England 0-1 Japan

69 mins: Space opening up for Japan as England look for a way back into this game. Nakamura cuts inside and whips an effort on goal, but it goes just wide of the far post.

England 0-1 Japan

65 mins: Up steps Rogers, but the wall does its job.

England 0-1 Japan

Rogers on the ball again and wins a foul for England just outside the penalty area. A good chance for the hosts, this.

England 0-1 Japan

62 mins: Rogers makes a spot of room for himself on the right side but his cross is straight into the grateful arms of Suzuki.

England 0-1 Japan

59 mins: And here come the subs. Palmer, Foden, White and O’Reilly off for Bowen, Solanke, Livramento and Hall.

England 0-1 Japan

58 mins: And Tuchel looks like he’s seen enough. Four subs warming up down below me.

England 0-1 Japan

54 mins: More joy for Japan down the right wing, but White is able to clear the threat away. Junya Ito with a chance moments later, but that is blocked by England’s scrambling defence.

The home side all over the place so far this half.

England 0-1 Japan

51 mins: Once again, it’s Japan looking the more threatening. Doan squirms past O’Reilly but is denied by the feet of Pickford from a tight angle.

England 0-1 Japan

46 mins: And we’re back underway for the second half. No changes at the break from either side.



England 0-1 Japan: Three Lions suffer defeat in final match before World Cup squad named | Football

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