Match Summary

Japan Team

England Team

This was the last chance for Fabio Capello to look at some of the options before he trimmed his World Cup squad from 30 to 23 players, and it was interesting to see who grabbed their last chance.  Not unexpectedly the match was a poor one overall, and England's performance reflected the disjointed team selection and formation.  It was also noticeable that, whatever anyone thinks, the players were not prepared to risk being injured with the tournament now just days away, and the performance reflected that mood.  Having said all that, it was good to note a second-half fightback that kept England's winning run going, against a spirited Japanese side, who will also be competing in South Africa.

After a bright enough start England found themselves a goal down after just seven minutes.  If one thing is worrying the manager it will be his side's incapacity to keep a clean sheet and the defensive frailties were evident again with the goal.  It came from a corner taken by Yasuhito Endo and the England players were asleep as Marcus Tanaka hit the ball past David James.  Both Glen Johnson and Tom Huddlestone should shoulder the bulk of the blame but most of the defenders were guilty of ball watching.

So once again England had to snap out of a lethargic opening and to be fair they tried hard to string some passes together.  Japan were winning the midfield battle however and all too often they easily broke through to the England rearguard.  But James hardly had a save to make as Japan lacked punch in attack.  At the other end Frank Lampard hit a dipping long-range effort, which was scrambled clear by goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima, with some difficulty.  Then England's best attack of the first half almost brought an equaliser as a superb Wayne Rooney run and pass gave the speeding Aaron Lennon a guilt edged chance on his left foot.  Kawashima got down well to block the shot but Lennon really should have scored.  It almost proved very costly when another Japanese attack ended with a shot just over at the other end.  Rooney did manage another near miss when he cleverly deflected a Huddlestone shot, destined for the corner flag, just wide of the post.

Not for the first time Capello had to have a rethink at the break, and the sight of five substitutes waiting to come on as the players emerged after the interval reflected that.  On came Joe Hart, Jamie Carragher, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole and immediately there was a distinct improvement in England's performance.  Gerrard, on his 30^th birthday, looked really sharp and Joe Cole was eager to make up for his lost time through injury.  Joe Hart, too, looked as though he was making a late challenge for the number one goalkeeping slot and he was soon in action with a good save from Keisuka Honda. 

Japan's attacks were less frequent now though as England pressed their midfield more convincingly, but it took a moment of madness from Honda to offer England a way back into the match.  The Japanese player blatantly blocked a free-kick from Lampard with his arm and the referee had no hesitation in giving a penalty.  The Chelsea player stepped up, but just as he had done in the FA Cup Final, he fluffed the kick.  This time Kawashima got down well to his right to push the ball away.  It is a bit worrying, especially with England's past record, when your main penalty taker is missing two in a row with a World Cup just around the corner! 

However, England were much more in control during this period of the game with Gerrard and Joe Cole adding much more to the England attacking play.  Hondo did force Hart to make another excellent save as the goalkeeper continued to impress, but England were now looking a little more threatening themselves.  It was Joe Cole who finally created the breakthrough in the 72^nd minute after he found himself on the right.  As his cross came in Tanaka equalised his earlier goal by deflecting the cross past the unfortunate Kawashima.  It was a stroke of luck, that is true, but by now England deserved the goal.  Rooney saw a fine shot brilliantly saved by the goalkeeper and both Gerrard and Lampard then went close.  With seven minutes to go, with the rain now lashing down in the stadium and thunder and lightening crashing all around, another slice of good fortune gave England victory.  This time it was Ashley Cole who broke down the left and aimed a cross to Rooney at the far post.  It probably wouldn't have reached the striker but no matter, central defender Nakazawa, decided to have a touch of the greasy ball and again it deflected into the net for an own goal.  It was the first time England had had two own goals scored for them in the same match, and you had to feel a little sorry for the guilty Japanese players as they had otherwise had excellent games for their country.

Capello sent on Emile Heskey for the last five minutes, for what reason it was unclear, but it did give the Aston Villa player the chance to miss an absolute sitter from Gerrard's pinpoint cross.

So, England got out of jail and claimed a rather fortuitous win, but a win is a win and England can now concentrate on the job in hand, namely to win the World Cup.  One last observation, it has often been evident in football and in cricket, that if all eleven players perform well in an England shirt at the same time, then we can beat anyone.  We must carry no passengers on the journey through the next few weeks.

Good luck lads.

Source Notes

Official Matchday Programme
BBC Sport
TheFA.com
ITV.com/football
FIFA.com
JFA website
Samurai Blue
RateTheRef
Bundesliga.at
Mike Payne - football historian and contributor
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CG