England will take on Japan in an international friendly, looking to maintain their unbeaten record against the Asian nation. Historically, England has triumphed in all three of their previous encounters, winning 2-1 in both June 1995 and May 2010, while the teams shared a 1-1 draw in June 2004.
In total, Asian nations have never defeated England in 10 attempts, with four draws and six losses. This match marks England’s first encounter with an Asian team since their impressive 6-2 victory over IR Iran during the FIFA World Cup in November 2022.
Despite their strong historical performance, England has struggled in recent friendlies, winning just two of their last seven matches, with two draws and three losses. However, they have managed to score in their last 21 matches across all competitions, a streak that began after a 0-0 draw with Slovenia at EURO 2024.
On the other hand, Japan comes into this match with confidence, remaining unbeaten in their last seven matches against European nations, winning six and drawing one. Their recent victories include impressive wins over Germany, Türkiye, and Scotland.
Set pieces have been a significant source of goals for England, with 10 of their last 18 goals coming from such situations. Notably, 40% of these set piece goals have been scored or assisted by players from Arsenal.
Harry Kane, England’s star striker, has been in fine form, scoring 10 goals in his last 10 international appearances. He has the opportunity to score two or more goals in consecutive matches for the first time since November 2021.
Japan has historically struggled in World Cup tournaments, never advancing past the last 16. However, their stunning performances against Spain and Germany in Qatar four years ago showcased their potential to surprise.
As the match approaches, observers are keen to see if England can extend their unbeaten streak against Japan and how both teams will perform given their recent forms. Details remain unconfirmed regarding the final lineup and strategies for the match.