After fielding an experimental starting lineup for Friday’s 1-1 draw with Uruguay, Three Lions head coach Thomas Tuchel named an XI that more closely resembled his strongest side in this final friendly before announcing his FIFA World Cup (WC) squad in May.
There were several high-profile absentees nonetheless, including captain and all-time record goalscorer Harry Kane, who missed out after suffering a minor injury in training. Marc Guéhi led his country for the first time as a result, and the centre-back had a header and a shot blocked in quick succession in the 13th minute after an England corner led to pinball in the Japan box.
The visitors looked to play on the counter-attack and took the lead through an incisive break, as Mitoma dispossessed Cole Palmer and moved the ball left to Keito Nakamura before racing into the box to meet the return pass and finish first-time.
It was the Japan forward’s ninth international goal and the first Jordan Pickford had conceded in an England shirt since October 2024.
The hosts offered very little in response and did not force Zion Suzuki to make a save until the 34th minute, when the goalkeeper flew to his left to tip Elliot Anderson’s curling effort onto the top of the crossbar. Japan’s Ayase Ueda then clipped the crossbar with a deflected effort after springing the offside trap four minutes before HT.
The Samurai Blue continued to look sharper than their opponents after the break and Ritsu Dōan caught Nico O’Reilly napping five minutes into the second half, but Pickford saved at his near post.
Tuchel had seen enough and made a quadruple substitution just before the hour mark as Jarrod Bowen, Lewis Hall, Dominic Solanke and Tino Livramento replaced Palmer, Ben White, Phil Foden and O’Reilly.
The changes did not immediately have the desired effect, though, and Nakamura was next to go close when he cut inside and curled just past the far post.
Marcus Rashford replaced Anthony Gordon and saw a low effort saved by Suzuki 13 minutes from time, with Bowen sending the rebound wide, before Harry Maguire’s header was cleared off the line by Yukinari Sugawara and Morgan Rogers blazed over.
However, the Three Lions failed to find the net for the first time since June 2024 as their final friendly before the WC ended in Tuchel’s first Wembley defeat as England boss.
Meanwhile, Japan look in great shape ahead of their eighth successive WC, having completed a home nations double following their 1-0 win over Scotland on Saturday.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Keito Nakamura (Japan)
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