Ian Wright highlights ‘massive problem’ for England and one player who ‘stood out’ in Japan defeat
Ian Wright says England’s 1-0 defeat to Japan further highlighted Thomas Tuchel’s reliance on Harry Kane as a ‘massive problem’ heading into the World Cup.
Kane had been expected to start the international friendly at Wembley having been rested for England’s lacklustre 1-1 draw with Uruguay last Friday.
But the Bayern Munich striker – England’s captain and all-time top goalscorer – suffered a minor injury in training on the eve of Tuesday’s clash and was left out of Tuchel’s matchday squad.
Phil Foden started as a false nine in Kane’s absence and once again flattered to deceive in what could be his final chance to put forward a case for selection, just 70 days out from this summer’s spectacle across the pond.
The loss to Japan was England’s final match before Tuchel’s World Cup squad announcement at the end of May, meaning opportunities to impress are fast running out for those players on the periphery.
Kaoru Mitoma’s 23-minute strike on the counter-attack – after Cole Palmer had been robbed of possession – proved the difference in the capital as Tuchel was left scratching his head with more questions to ponder.
The hosts only really looked like levelling after Harry Maguire came off the bench and had a header cleared off the line by Yukinari Sugawara in the closing stages.
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The result saw Japan become the first Asian Football Confederation team in history to get the better of England. It also marked the first time that Tuchel has been beaten at Wembley as manager of the national side.
The Three Lions have just two more warm-up matches – against New Zealand and Costa Rica – in June to fine-tune before attentions turn to this year’s tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Asked if the England shirt was perhaps weighing heavy on those players looking to put their name in the mix for selection, Tuchel told ITV Sport in his post-match interview: ‘I don’t want to engage in this discussion.
‘I think it is very clear what we want to do and how we want to play, and focus more on the principals and on the doing instead of thinking about what it means.
‘Playing for England comes with pressure, it comes with noise, that is just how it is.
‘We need to see how the players adapt to that and we can only see it if we try it, so we tried it and we have to learn from it.
‘We have two months now to get it out of our system. The players will play a lot of football and then we will be ready.’
Analysing the setback in the ITV Sport studio, ex-England and Arsenal striker Wright suggested the performance just showed the extent to which Kane is missed when he is unavailable.
Dominic Solanke was the only other out-and-out centre-forward in Tuchel’s matchday squad and was largely ineffective after replacing Foden with 30 minutes of the contest remaining.
‘Japan deserved the win. It was like the one we saw against Uruguay the other day, the kind of performance you might get in a tournament,’ Wright said.
‘They were very ruthless, very good defensively, attacking-wise.
‘There was no Harry Kane, no focal point, and England didn’t look at all like we could lay a glove on them. It didn’t look like that at all.
‘To lose to them, especially in the fashion that we did, I can’t worry because it was too many changes.
According to Wright, England looked rudderless in attack without their ‘focal point’ and talisman Kane.
‘I think Japan are a very, very good side, a very underrated side, and I think they showed that, and we didn’t have a focal point,’ he added.
‘That’s the massive problem that we have and I feel that’s why he probably tried Phil Foden in that nine.
‘If that’s the case and he’s going to go that way, we might see Anthony Gordon, we might see Marcus Rashford up there.
‘But whatever they’re doing, we’ve got to make sure we’re able to pass out with pace and skill instead of going to width all the time. You’ve got to be able to play into the focal point, making movement off people.
‘I don’t think we pulled Japan around enough.’
Wright was impressed by the performances of Lewis Hall and Marcus Rashford, who were both introduced in the second half as England searched in vain for an equaliser.
The Arsenal great also made sure to highlight Maguire’s display, saying the Manchester United defender ‘stood out’ with his threat from set-pieces after replacing Ezri Konsa.
It comes after Tuchel raised eyebrows by naming Maguire as his fifth-choice centre-back in the wake of England’s draw with Uruguay.
‘I thought Lewis Hall looked pretty good when he came on and even Marcus Rashford when he came on, he looked sharp, Wright went on.
‘I do love the Harry Maguire reemergence, coming on there, three headers straight off the bat, with some set-pieces.
‘He came on and showed how much of a [threat he is].
‘I can’t see how he’s fifth choice centre-back with his experience and what he can bring.
‘I dont know if Tuchel was being a bit facetious there but the fact is, he came on, just like the game the other day, and he stands out: his passing from the back, he’s attacking the ball in both boxes.’
Ex-England and Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott was similarly encouraged by Maguire’s cameo display, chiming in: ‘He did his chances no harm in getting on the plane.
‘His commitment… we spoke about the quality of the crosses beforehand but if you have someone with that willingness to get on the end of it and make first contacts, it’s so important.
‘But I think we’ve got a long way to go and if we’re relying on set-pieces to win us a tournament then it’s going to be a long tournament for us.
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‘But we can take the game in perspective and recognise that sometimes when you lose this close to a tournament, it’s a blessing in disguise.’
On Maguire, Lescott continued: ‘He knows his role in the squad and he’s well respected.
‘I’m a big fan having worked with him and I know how much it means to him to play for England and how coachable he is.
‘Yes, I think that comment was made from Tuchel because of the season rather than where he’s at technically.’
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Article source: https://metro.co.uk/2026/03/31/ian-wright-highlights-massive-problem-england-one-player-stood-out-japan-defeat-27792291/