England’s World Cup preparations took a blow in a historic 1-0 defeat by Japan on Tuesday night. The Three Lions lost to a team from Asia for the first time at a stunned Wembley, where the home side were booed off by disgruntled fans just four days after their low-key 1-1 draw with Uruguay at the same venue. It was certainly not the performance Thomas Tuchel was looking for in the final game before he names his 26-man squad for this summer’s World Cup finals in May.
Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma started and finished a ruthless counter-attack in the first half for Japan, dispossessing Cole Palmer before then confidently slotting past Jordan Pickford. It was to prove the only goal of the friendly, with Elliot Anderson and Ayase Ueda both hitting the crossbar. Pickford and opposite number Zion Suzuki each made several saves but it was not until late on that England really rallied themselves in search of an elusive equaliser, with substitute Harry Maguire seeing a header cleared off the line.
England were rocked ahead of kick-off by an injury to captain Harry Kane that ruled him out of a squad already missing the likes of Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, with Jude Bellingham not risked off the bench. Follow England vs Japan live below!
England vs Japan highlights
Maguire sees late header cleared off the line Ueda also rattles woodwork for Japan before break Anderson hits crossbar as England look for equaliser GOAL! Mitoma finishes off ruthless Japan counter-attack Tuchel explains shock Kane absence at WembleyLive updates
England 0-1 Japan
Full-time
England lose to an Asian team for the first time ever on a really flat and worrying night at Wembley.
Kaoru Mitoma’s first-half goal the difference as Japan celebrate their maiden victory over the Three Lions.
So many questions for Tuchel as he prepares to name his World Cup squad in May - nothing worked tonight, especially not the false nine experiment with Foden.
A performance and result that only enhances the significance of the likes of Kane, Saka, Rice and Bellingham.
Some boos greet the full-time whistle.
REUTERSEngland 0-1 Japan
90 mins: Four minutes of added time for England to rescue this.
England 0-1 Japan
89 mins: ‘Wow’ says Tuchel as Burn now connects with an England corner and the ball bounces off Rashford into the path of Rogers, who blazes over the crossbar from close range.
England 0-1 Japan
87 mins: Japan are clinging on now as Maguire gets his head to another corner and Hall’s fierce low drive is pushed wide by Zion Suzuki.
Where has this England effort been all night?
England 0-1 Japan
84 mins: England continue to knock on the door for a late leveller at Wembley.
The corners are piling up, with another Maguire header off target.
England 0-1 Japan
82 mins: Almost a late England equaliser as Maguire wins a grappling contest but his header is cleared off the line by Sugawara.
Maguire is also captaining England now with Guehi off.
England 0-1 Japan
80 mins: Japan send on Machino, former Southampton right-back Sugawara and Yuito Suzuki for Nakamura, Kamada and Junya Ito.
Two defensive changes from England, with Burn and Maguire on for Konsa and Guehi.
Less than 10 minutes to go...
England 0-1 Japan
Standard Sport’s Matt Verri at Wembley
Hall has made a difference since coming on. He's making good runs out wide and getting into the box to commit defenders.
That's a low bar for praise but it's as good as it's getting for England right now.
England 0-1 Japan
74 mins: Hall has made a real impact for England since coming on.
Rashford’s low effort is shovelled away by Zion Suzuki before Bowen lashes wide on the spin.
England 0-1 Japan
71 mins: Into the last 20 minutes at a subdued Wembley as Rashford and Garner replace Gordon and Mainoo.
Leeds’ Ao Tanaka and Junnosuke Suzuki are on for Japan, replacing goalscorer Mitoma and captain Doan.
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