It’s not the question Thomas Tuchel wants to entertain at the World Cup this summer, but it’s the question he ran into here in what should have been a big game at Wembley in England. Can the team succeed against good opposition without Harry Kane? The answer played out in an even more depressing 90 minutes. It was not.
It wasn’t just Kane, who missed out with a sore leg. But it was easy to conflate England’s absence with his own. Tuchel had pointed out on Monday the poor goal returns from his other attacking players. They needed to bring more to the party. There was only chaos.
England have struggled at the back, threatening from corners too much after Harry Maguire and Dan Burn were sent off as well. It was old fashioned but, hey, if it works. There was not enough from the group as a creative force in the open game, individual and structural problems.
In Kane’s absence, Tuchel started with Cole Palmer and Phil Foden as the No 10 twins in a 4-2-4 formation. It didn’t work. England lacked penetration in the final third and never had runners behind. Japan was comfortable.
Jordan Pickford conceded for the first time at international level since October 2024 when he was beaten by Kaoru Mitoma midway through the first half; The incredible streak of goals stopped at 922 minutes. And Japan got the win over the line in the closing stages.
Tuchel has played for three countries in Fifa’s top 20; every now and then with friends. There was a 3-1 defeat at the end of last season against Senegal, who are No. 14, before Friday’s 1-1 draw against Uruguay (No. 17). Now, against Japan is ranked 18th. The England fans who stayed until the final whistle – and there were plenty of empty seats – wept with emotion.
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Wales and Northern Ireland draw in Cardiff
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Wales and Northern Ireland shared a 1-1 friendly in Cardiff as they try to get the World Cup crisis out of their system.
Jamie Donley raised hopes of Northern Ireland’s first victory in this game since Noel Brotherston won at Ninian Park 46 years ago, but Sorba Thomas got a share of the spoils with a late equalizer, extending Wales’ unbeaten run against their visitors to 10 games – five wins and five draws.
Uefa insisted that Thursday’s losing semi-finals – Wales beat Bosnia and Herzegovina and Northern Ireland to Italy – meet in a match derided by many as a waste of time.
In that case, it was a good competition but not limited to the risk of a more meaningful issue. Both sides have made changes but perhaps not as many as expected.
The two nations last met at Euro 2016 when Gareth McAuley’s unfortunate goal settled the tie in favor of Wales. Northern Ireland were almost hit by another foul on seven minutes after Lewis Koumas latched on to Isaac Price’s wayward pass and warmed the hands of goalkeeper Conor Hazard.
Price was more productive at the other end, flashing in a cross that eluded everyone, before the visitors struck after 22 minutes. Jamie Donley headed Justin Devenny’s cross onto the post and the volley fell straight at him. The striker scored his second international goal and could have added another with a delightful connection from Patrick Kelly’s cross.
Northern Ireland’s attacks were dangerous and Price, just 10 meters inside the Wales half and seeing Karl Darlow on his way, tried a powerful effort that the Wales goalkeeper was about to reach to safety.
Hazard remained untroubled as Joel Colwill’s header was blocked and Wilson sent over a free-kick from 30 yards. But Wales were level within seconds of the restart, with Pierce Charles’ first-time effort to pick the ball out of the net. David Brooks drove through the visitors’ defense and Thomas reacted quickly to a loose ball to claim his second Wales goal from close range.
Charles saved Wilson’s free-kick and Darlow produced a superb save from Brown’s header. Wilson fired wide from 18 yards as Wales looked for a winner, but Northern Ireland almost denied the death when Callum Marshall’s header cleared the bar. PA Media
It was always going to be a difficult international vacation, dominated by cash withdrawals and property management problems. However, the team that won all the World Cup qualifiers – albeit a friendly team – won their way to the finals.
Tuchel started with Morgan Rogers on the right, Anthony Gordon on the left; Palmer and Foden are a mobile partnership if not the usual end of things.
There was zip in England at first, lots of clever little triangles. This is what happens when you enter the lineup with experts. Yet it was hard not to see the flipside, to be vulnerable out of control, as Japan surged into the middle to score.
The goal was all about Mitoma. He started the move by chipping the ball to Palmer, driving it past the flat-footed Kobbie Mainoo and finishing after receiving a low pass from Keito Nakamura on the left. Japan worked hard after Mitoma forced the money, got him up and away.
England went close in a corner in the 12th minute, Palmer, Gordon and Marc Guéhi, the team captain, saw shots quickly blocked. There was a moment shortly after Mitoma’s breakthrough when Elliott Anderson swooped in and made a fine finish against the crossbar. Anderson was great.
It felt like a reflection of England’s hard work when Nico O’Reilly headed in a cross from the left for Foden to center on 36 minutes. He was well placed in front of goal but never got high enough to make the header clear. The damage at that time could have been even worse. Mainoo struggled and, playing loose in the 42nd minute, Kaishu Sano sent on Ayase Ueda. The shot deflected slightly off Ezri Konsa and rebounded off the edge.
There was a lot to like about Japan in their 3-4-2-1 formation. Movement, comfort through wealth. And, more importantly, how they gathered men around the ball when England had it. Tuchel’s team did not score any goals.
Japan threatened after the restart, looking to expose O’Reilly’s weakness to a long diagonal across his shoulders. Ritsu Doan got away from him and it took a smart save from Pickford at the near post to deny him. Japan had a few more chances, including when Nakamura headed into the far corner in the 69th minute.
Tuchel made a number of changes and wondered if there were others who could save the day. Marcus Rashford drew a save from Zion Suzuki after a corner and Maguire, with his first touch since arriving, hit one header after another. Yukinari Sugawara, another substitute, left the line.
There was more. Lewis Hall worked the Suzuki with a low car after Maguire caused a lot of problems in the area and finally, after another corner, Burn isolated himself and Rogers was on fire. It was a huge opportunity and an equally huge mistake. Tuchel has a lot to think about.
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