Ian Wright says England’s 1-0 loss to Japan emphasized further Thomas TuchelBacking Harry Kane as a ‘massive problem’ going into World Cup.
Kane was expected to start the international friendly at Wembley next being rested for England’s 1-1 draw with Uruguay last friday.
But the Bayern Munich striker – England’s captain and all-time top scorer – picked up a minor injury in training ahead of the clash and was left out of Tuchel’s matchday squad.
Phil Foden started as a false nine in Kane’s absence and again flattered to deceive in what could be his last chance to make a case for selection, just 70 days away from this summer’s spectacle across the pond.
Tonight’s defeat to Japan was the last game before Tuchel unveils his World Cup squad at the end of May, meaning opportunities to impress are quickly running out for those players on the fringes.
Kaoru Mitoma’s 23rd-minute strike on the counter-attack – after Cole Palmer was robbed of possession – proved the change in the capital as Tuchel was given yet more questions to ponder.
The hosts only looked like leveling after Harry Maguire came off the bench to have a header cleared off the line by Yukinari Sugawara in the closing stages.
Your football fix
subwayJames Goldman’s Sports Chief delivers insightful analysis, transfer talk and his opinion on the week’s biggest stories straight to your inbox every week.
Register hereit’s an open target.
The result made Japan the first Asian Football Confederation team in history to beat England. It is the first time that Tuchel has been defeated at Wembley as a coach of the national team.
The Three Lions now have just two more warm-up games – against New Zealand and Costa Rica in June – to fine tune before attention turns to this year’s tour of the United States. Mexico and Canada.
Asked if the England shirt could weigh heavily 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 get into that discussion.
“I think it’s very clear what we want to do and how we want to play, and focus more on the leaders and the doing rather than thinking about what it means.
“Playing for England comes with pressure, it comes with noise, that’s how it is.
“We have 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.”
Analyzing the setback in the ITV Sport studio, former England and Arsenal striker Wright suggested the performance simply showed the extent to which Kane is missed when 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 remaining in the contest.
“Japan deserved the win. It was like what we saw against Uruguay the other day, the kind of performance you can get in a tournament,” Wright said.
“They were very ruthless, very good in defense, in attack.
‘There was none Harry Kaneno focal point, and England didn’t look at all like we could get a handle on them. It didn’t seem that way at all.
“To lose to them, especially in the fashion we did, I can’t be bothered because there were a lot of 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 we have and I think 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 can see Anthony Gordonwe can see Marcus Rashford up there.
“But whatever they do, we’ve got to make sure we’re able to lose our minds with pace and skill rather than going wide all the time. You’ve got to be able to play in the centre, making moves from people.
“I don’t think we pulled Japan 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 performance, saying the Manchester United defender ‘stood out’ with his set-piece threat after replacing Ezri Konsa.
It comes after Tuchel raised eyebrows by naming Maguire as his fifth centre-back in the wake of England’s draw with Uruguay.
“I thought Lewis Hall looked really good when he came on and even Marcus Rashford when he came on he looked sharp,” Wright continued.
“I like the resurgence of Harry Maguire, coming in there, three headers straight off the bat, with a couple of sets.
He came in and showed how dangerous he is.
“I can’t see how he’s a fifth-choice quarterback with his experience and what he can bring.
“I don’t know if Tuchel was being a bit strange there, but the fact is that he came on, just like the other day’s game, and he stands out: his passing from the back, he attacks the ball in both squares.”
Former England and Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott was similarly encouraged by Maguire’s display, saying: “He didn’t hurt his chances to get on the plane.”
“His commitment… we spoke earlier about the quality of the crosses, but if you have someone with that willingness to get on the end and make the first contact, it’s very important.
“But I think we have a long way to go and if we rely on groups to win a tournament then it will be a long tournament for us.
“But we can put the game into perspective and realize that sometimes when you lose so close to a tournament, it’s a blessing in disguise.”
On Maguire, Lescott continued: “He knows his role in the team and is 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 what a coach he is.
“Yes, I think this comment was made by Tuchel because of the season and not because of where he is technically.”
For more stories like this, check our sports page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter AND Instagram.
MORE: Sam Allardyce urges Man Utd star to reject England World Cup call-up
MORE: Laura Woods urges Thomas Tuchel to recall England star for World Cup
