Why Thomas Tuchel is Likely Displeased with His English Players Following Home Defeat to Japan

Thomas Tuchel’s team had a perfect record in their qualifying matches, winning all without conceding. Despite Harry Kane being rested, alongside the absences of Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, there was little pre-match discussion suggesting that Japan would pose a threat to the home side.

“Final opportunity” for England’s players

The German coach hinted in his pre-match briefing that this would be a “final opportunity” for players to make their case for inclusion in his World Cup squad. With the allowance of up to 10 substitutes, Tuchel had the chance to assess several players on the pitch.

The starting lineup featured Kobbie Mainoo and Morgan Rogers, providing both players with that very opportunity. Rogers was particularly active in the opening 15 minutes, having two of his attempts at goal blocked.

Marc Guehi also had two chances blocked, while Anthony Gordon’s low shot was deflected away from the goal.

During the initial moments, Japan displayed an energetic performance, continuously looking to counter-attack, but were restricted by the amount of possession England enjoyed.

Midfielder Elliot Anderson continued to enhance his reputation ahead of a potential call-up for the USA, demonstrating exceptional skill throughout the match.

Having completed 111 out of 117 passes, Anderson boasted an impressive 94.9% accuracy rate.

One of his passes found Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, but the latter lost the ball to Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma.

A quick break saw Mainoo struggle to keep up, as the ball was played wide and crossed back for Mitoma, who expertly finished into the corner, even with six England defenders in close proximity.

While Japan had previously moved upfield, this instance highlighted England’s vulnerabilities in defence.

The goal specifically spotlighted Mainoo’s lack of speed, and Tuchel might want to discuss with Palmer why he merely jogged back after losing possession instead of attempting to reclaim it.

Foden on the outskirts

Phil Foden was expected to shine but found himself largely disengaged from the match.

He recorded just one dribble and one touch in the opposition box, with both he and Palmer substituted before the hour mark due to lacklustre performances.

What that means for their World Cup aspirations remains uncertain.

Ritsu Doan nearly found the net for Japan around the half-time mark, supported by Mitoma and Kaishu Sano, whose persistence—totaling 23 duels—started to frustrate the English side.

England’s squandered chances

Sano recovered the ball eight times, achieving a strong 93.5% pass completion rate, becoming one of the standout players for Japan.

England, while not hesitant to shoot, recorded only four on target out of their 19 attempts, highlighting their inefficiency in front of goal.

Japan scored from one of their two attempts on target, raising concerns for Tuchel as England can’t solely depend on Kane for goals.

Just before the hour mark, Tuchel made a quadruple substitution, bringing on Jarrod Bowen, Dominic Solanke, Tino Livramento, and Lewis Hall.

In his over 30 minutes on the pitch, the Tottenham forward managed just one touch in Japan’s penalty area, a stark contrast to Hall’s impressive performance, where he excelled in duels and made multiple forward entries.

Later substitutions from both teams failed to impact the match, although Harry Maguire might feel somewhat aggrieved.

Upon his introduction in the 82nd minute, he quickly saw a header cleared off the line, with two other chances either blocked or off target.

What insights did Tuchel gain?

Despite Tuchel’s efforts and England’s best intentions, the match revealed that, even with Japan controlling only 30% of possession, they appeared more alert and effective when managing the ball.

The fluidity and intent of Japan’s play were noticeably lacking from England’s performance.

It’s uncertain what concrete lessons Tuchel will take from this encounter; however, several players may come to realise that failing to demonstrate their utmost capabilities could jeopardise their selection for the upcoming World Cup.

In the end, while the result might not carry significant weight, it stands as a disappointing chapter in England’s preparations.

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