Overview
- England lost 1-0 to Japan at Wembley in a friendly, four days after a 1-1 draw with Uruguay, and the home crowd booed at full time.
- The setback sharpened scrutiny of Thomas Tuchel’s choices, after he left Real Madrid full-back Trent Alexander‑Arnold out of a 35-man list and then called up Ben White when Jarell Quansah withdrew hurt.
- Gary Lineker called the snub and the White call-up 'really insulting' toward a top right-back and suggested, while saying he was guessing, that Tuchel may have a personal issue with Alexander‑Arnold.
- Tuchel said the decision was hard but tactical, arguing he changed England’s game model in the autumn and that other players suit the system better.
- After the defeat Tuchel cut off a question about the England shirt being a burden, said pressure is part of the job and learning is the aim, as UK papers cast the night as a reality check and noted the attack missed Harry Kane.