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

Thomas Tuchel’s squad had breezed through their qualifiers, securing victories without conceding a single goal. Despite resting Harry Kane and missing both Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, there was little pre-match discussion about the potential threats posed by their opponents.

“Final opportunity” for England players

In his pre-match press conference, the German hinted that this match presented a “final opportunity” for players to assert their place in the World Cup squad. With a maximum of 10 substitutes permitted, Tuchel had a prime chance to assess several players.

The selection of Kobbie Mainoo and Morgan Rogers in the starting line-up provided both with a significant opportunity. Rogers was particularly active in the early stages, having two of his attempts at goal blocked.

Marc Guehi also had two of his attempts thwarted, while Anthony Gordon’s low shot was deflected away from goal.

In the initial stages, it seemed an uphill battle for a dynamic Japan, who were eager to counter-attack at any chance, yet often found themselves stifled by England’s dominance on the ball.

Elliot Anderson further solidified his case for a World Cup spot with a stellar midfield display. By the end of the match, the Nottingham Forest player had completed 111 of 117 passes, boasting an impressive 94.9% completion rate.

One of those passes reached Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, who was then dispossessed by Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma.

A lightning-fast counter saw Mainoo outstripped, leading to a well-placed shot by Mitoma into the bottom corner, despite the presence of six England players in the box.

This goal highlighted the vulnerability of England’s defence, particularly Mainoo’s pace. Tuchel may want to discuss why Palmer did not sprint back into defensive mode after losing possession.

Foden’s subdued performance

High expectations accompanied Phil Foden, yet he frequently found himself detached from the action. He only managed a single dribble and one touch in the opposition box throughout the entire match, resulting in both him and Palmer being substituted early.

The implications of their performances on their World Cup selection remain uncertain.

Ritsu Doan came close to scoring for Japan before and after halftime, and along with Mitoma and Kaishu Sano, they combined to frustrate the hosts with a total of 23 duels.

England’s missed opportunities

Sano regained possession for Japan eight times, with an impressive pass completion rate of 93.5%, making him one of their standout players.

Although England were not hesitant in their shooting efforts, their profligacy was evident as they managed only four of 19 attempts on target.

Japan capitalised on one of their two shots on target, raising a concern for Tuchel, as England may struggle to rely solely on Kane for goals.

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

However, Solanke’s contribution fell short, managing only one touch in Japan’s penalty area during his 30+ minutes on the pitch, in stark contrast to Hall’s energetic performance.

Hall successfully won three out of four one-on-ones and recorded seven entries into the final third, ranking just behind Anderson, Guehi, and Mainoo.

Despite a flurry of substitutions late in the match from both sides, the result remained unchanged, although Harry Maguire could feel aggrieved. Within six minutes of entering the fray, he had a header cleared off the line and saw another blocked, with a third effort going just wide.

What insights did Tuchel gain?

In reality, despite their best efforts and holding 30% possession, Japan exhibited a sharper edge and more dynamism on the ball compared to England.

The visitors demonstrated a fluidity and intent that was noticeably absent from the home side for much of the match.

As an assessment exercise, it’s hard to determine what Tuchel will take away from this match. Nevertheless, certain players may be aware that failing to perform at their best could jeopardise their World Cup aspirations.

Ultimately, the result may not bear significant weight, which could be seen as a silver lining on what was a disappointing evening for England.

Catch up on the match here.