LONDON, March 31 - Japan edged past England 1-0 in a Wembley friendly, showcasing their form ahead of the World Cup. Kaoru Mitoma's early goal, assisted by Keito Nakamura, left England without a response despite multiple chances.
England's performance was criticized as weak, especially given the looming World Cup squad announcement in May by manager Thomas Tuchel. Kane's absence due to injury and Tuchel's experimentations contributed to the poor showing.
Japanese players nearly doubled their lead before halftime with a shot that hit the woodwork. Despite efforts from substitutes like Marcus Rashford and Jarrod Bowen, England couldn't score.
Tuchel acknowledged the loss, stating 'We got punished for one counterattack.' Captain Marc Guehi noted, 'We had chances today, just couldn’t convert them.'