Japan defeated England 1-0 in an international friendly at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday. The result highlighted England's reliance on Harry Kane, who missed the fixture due to an ankle injury sustained while playing for Bayern Munich. According to Sky Sports, the England captain returned to Germany for treatment prior to the match.
Manager Gareth Southgate handed a first start to Ivan Toney in the absence of the regular striker. Ollie Watkins also featured during the second half as England attempted to equalise. Despite controlled possession, the home side failed to convert several chances against a disciplined Japanese defence, per The Guardian.
Japan secured the victory with a clinical counter-attack in the second period. This match served as a final preparation window before Southgate names his provisional squad for the upcoming major tournament. The defeat marks the first time England have lost a home international against Asian opposition, according to Reuters. Concerns remain regarding the squad depth in central attacking positions if Kane is unavailable.
