England suffer defeat to Japan in final game before naming World Cup squad

England’s final match on home soil before the World Cup ended in a first ever defeat to Asian opposition as Thomas Tuchel’s side stumbled to a somewhat concerning 1-0 loss to Japan .

There were a handful of boos from those left inside what had been a sold-out Wembley Stadium after a largely lifeless display compounded Friday’s stop-start 1-1 draw with physical Uruguay.

Tuesday’s defeat was Tuchel’s second since taking charge at the start of last year and decided by Kaoru Mitoma’s fine first-half finish at the end of a well-worked move started by the Japan star dispossessing Cole Palmer.

This was another experimental side by the German coach, who again made a swathe of substitutions throughout a friendly that provided more questions than answers, including how to score without Harry Kane.

The skipper sat out the send-off fixture having picked up a knock in training and watched England fail to register a shot on target during a drab first half in which Elliot Anderson saw an effort clip the crossbar.

The Euro 2024 runners-up bossed possession before and after the break but lacked incision, spark and fluidity despite a late push in the last game before Tuchel names his World Cup squad in eight weeks’ time.