England 0-1 Japan LIVE – England lose final match on home soil before World Cup

“More clarity, clearly.”

“Without Harry Kane, we don’t have the same threat. Without Harry Kane, Bayern Munich does not have the same threat. No team in the world would. It’s normal. Top teams rely on top players. That’s absolutely normal.

“It’s always a bit disrupting if the captain leaves the last training and is out of the squad.

“We lost Noni, Bukayo, Declan Rice, John Stones, who are normally the core and the drive of this group and it effected us. It’s normal. They are the players to carry the quality and the momentum on their shoulders.”

“If we put offensive players on the pitch, we demand offensive actions. Creativity, dribbling, shots, assists, and we clearly didn’t have enough. We could not create. We made it difficult for ourselves.

“Our offensive players struggled to make the difference and to create something in one on one situations.”

“I think we got punished for not a lot against Uruguay and by one counter-attack today where they managed to score.

“I’m disappointed with the result, everyone is, but I think we have to put it into perspective.

“I knew it would be tough in this window because our players are heavily invested in club football, heavily invested in European football, in the physically toughest league there is.

“We played against two top 20 teams, well drilled, very good opponents who arrived with their best line-ups.

“We had a big change in the middle of camp. After the match we had seven or eight injuries and they had to leave camp. It’s not an excuse, it’s just an explanation why things are perfectly smooth and on the highest level.”

England struggle in their final match in England before the World Cup.

Kaoru Mitoma’s goal was the difference.

Four minutes added on.

Rogers has to score.

Much like Bowen’s earlier miss the ball falls to the Englishman in the area, just six yards out and he lashes well over.

The ball falls to Hall from yet another England corner and his shot is saved by Zuzuki.

Rogers wins yet another England corner, they are putting the pressure on here.

Harry Maguire is almost instantly on the scoresheet.

He meets Bowen’s corner brilliantly and his header is blocked on the line.

Dan Burn and Harry Maguire are on for Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa.

Jarrod Bowen will not want to rewatch that.

The ball falls to him after Rashford had a shot spilled by the keeper, six yards out and he misses the target.

Marcus Rashford and Lewis Hall both put two very nice crosses into the area but both are met by Japanese heads.

James Garner and Marcus Rashford are on for Anthony Gordon and Kobbie Mainoo.

Keito Nakamura is so close to scoring there.

He cuts in on the left and fires just wide of Jordan Pickford’s goal.

A chorus of groans greet that free kick from Rogers.

It goes straight into the wall.

Rogers wins a free kick just on the edge of the box.

Promising chance for England.

Phil Foden was given the opportunity to impress in the false 9 role today and subbed off at 60 minutes without making any real impact.

Does he go to the World Cup?

Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Ben White (to a chorus of boos) and Nico O’Reilly make way.

Jarrod Bowen, Dominic Solanke, Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento are on.

England finally have an opportunity.

Palmer whips a corner into Konsa who heads just wide under pressure.

Another chance for Japan.

It’s Junya Ito’s turn to run in behind Nico O’Reilly before crossing towards the striker in the middle who cannot get his head on it.

The first chance of the half goes to Japan.

A crossfield ball is taken down wonderfully by Ritsu Doan who shots low into the near post. Pickford is equal to it though.

Junya Ito gets us back underway.

The second half is about to get underway as both sets of players re-enter the pitch.