Japan deservedly beat a lackluster side and Harry Kane-less England 1-0 at Wembley on Tuesday in the hosts’ final friendly before manager Thomas Tuchel announces his World Cup squad in May.
Kaoru Mitoma, who plays for Brighton & Hove Albion, scored in the 23rd minute to end goalkeeper Jordan Pickford’s run of zero for England from October 2024.
It was a first victory for World Cup hopeful Japan over England in four meetings and the second defeat for the fourth-ranked team in the world in twelve games under the German coach.
Captain and prolific goalscorer Kane was ruled out for the start after picking up an injury in training, and England made changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Uruguay in a friendly last Friday.
Japan, which also defeated Scotland 1-0 last Saturday, has now won its last five matches.
England midfielder Cole Palmer was at fault as he lost the ball to Mitoma on halfway, before Japan surged forward on the counter-attack and the winger moved aside after Keito Nakamura’s cross.
Elliot Anderson came close to equalizing with a shot that bounced off the crossbar in the 34th, but the visitor could have gone 2-0 ahead when a deflected effort in the 42nd pinged the woodwork for a corner.
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There were boos at half-time after a lackluster performance by the England players, ostensibly fighting for a place on the plane to the World Cup, who failed to progress in their final game on home soil before the finals in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Phil Foden, playing centrally as a false nine rather than as a winger, made little impression in the first half and was substituted in the second.
Tuchel stuck with his starting line-up until making a quadruple substitution in the 59th minute, when Japan could have gone further ahead.
Ritsu Doan squandered one good chance by shooting instead of passing to an unmarked teammate, and Junya Ito missed another.
England substitute Marcus Rashford had a chance to equalize in the 78th but shot straight at goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, and Jarrod Bowen shot wide of the rebound as the hosts increased the pace but still missed the target.
The Netherlands plays a draw against Ecuador
The Netherlands were held to a 1-1 draw against Ecuador despite playing almost the entire friendly match with ten men on Tuesday.
The Dutch had wing defender Denzel Dumfries sent off after twelve minutes, after having already taken the lead in the third minute with the visitors’ own goal in the third minute.
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Cody Gakpo’s low cross from the left deflected Ecuador defender Willian Pacho, who turned the ball into his own net under pressure from Donyell Malen.
Ecuador equalized from the penalty spot through Enner Valencia in the 23rd minute after Dutch goalkeeper Mark Fleken brought down Gonzalo Plata with a clumsy challenge.
Plata had also forced his way past Dumfries, who then pulled the Ecuadorian midfielder to the ground as he went through on goal, leaving the referee with no choice but to show him a straight red card.
Ecuador also hit the upright early in the match, with John Yeboah’s clever ball coming inches from goal. Fleken blocked Yeboah’s attempt in the 42nd minute with a smart stop.
The Dutch team will have one more warm-up before the World Cup, at home against Algeria on June 3.
Published on April 1, 2026
