Thomas Tuchel calls for calm after England suffered a 1-0 loss to Japan ahead of the World Cup.

Thomas Tuchel has urged calm after England suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat to the Japan m at Wembley. The loss marked England’s first-ever defeat to an Asian opponent and raised concerns ahead of the World Cup.

The decisive moment came in the first half when Kaoru Mitoma capitalised on a counterattack to score the only goal of the match. England struggled to respond and were booed off by supporters after another underwhelming display.

The defeat followed a lacklustre 1-1 draw with the Uruguay national football team, leaving Tuchel’s side without momentum in their final home friendlies before the tournament. The manager admitted the performance was painful but insisted the matches offered valuable lessons.

Our March camp ends with a defeat to Japan at @WembleyStadium. pic.twitter.com/xOikXwW6Ns

— England (@England) March 31, 2026

Tuchel highlighted the absence of key players including Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka. He also experimented with a new formation, deploying Phil Foden as a false nine alongside Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Anthony Gordon in attack.

The tactical plan failed to produce results, with England struggling to create clear chances against Japan’s organised pressing. Tuchel dismissed the idea that the system alone was to blame, stressing that his players needed to show more bravery and win individual battles.

The German coach also emphasised Kane’s importance, comparing reliance on the striker to other nations leaning on their superstars. He admitted England lacked cutting edge without their captain, who has been in prolific form for Bayern Munich.

Despite the setback, Tuchel pointed to improvement in the second half, where England showed more width and took greater risks. While chances were created, they failed to convert, leaving the manager insisting the defeat should be viewed as part of the learning process ahead of the World Cup.