World Cup warm-up preview: England v Japan
If Fabio Capello hasn’t already decided who’ll make his 23-man World Cup squad, then Sunday’s friendly against Japan will be the last time he gets a look at those fringe players on the cusp of boarding the plane to South Africa.
Right now, all 30 are waiting nervously in the departure lounge, mentally-braced to participate in football’s most iconic tournament. But seven unfortunate souls will be sent back to England for a summer of watching the showpiece event on TV, like the rest of us mere mortals.
Although the result isn’t the most important thing this weekend, England still come into this match as the overwhelming favourites. A victory in Austria will provide a timely confidence-booster for Capello’s men, who play Japan off the back of Monday’s unconvincing 3-1 victory against Mexico.
The idea is to get the players acclimatised to playing in high altitude. Preparation is key, and both nations have prepared for the difficult, unfamiliar conditions which await next month.
It will also give the chance for the likes of Adam Johnson, Darren Bent, Scott Parker and Michael Dawson to show why they deserve a place in Capello’s 23-man squad. With only 90 minutes of football – and quite possibly just half that – to impress the pragmatic Italian, it will be no mean feat.
The Chelsea contingent, who watched on from the Wembley stands earlier in the week, will all be drafted back in ahead of the national team’s World Cup opener against USA on June 12th. John Terry is expected to replace Ledley King at the heart of defence, Ashley Cole will regain his left-back berth ahead of Leighton Baines and free-scoring midfielder, Frank Lampard, will aim to get himself on the scoresheet one more time before the grand tournament begins in two weeks time.
Meanwhile, Joe Cole will also have to prove his fitness during Sunday’s auditions for the left-wing role, and faces stiff competition from both Johnson and James Milner.
Following Monday’s laboured win over Mexico, Capello is expected to stick to the tried and tested 4-4-2 formation, to ensure his players get the basics right. For a large part of the match against the Mexicans, the visitors were far more assured in possession and managed to pass their way around the disjointed English, creating a host of goalscoring opportunities in the process.
Anything less than a dramatic improvement over a Japan side which lost 2-0 to South Korea earlier this week would be concerning ahead of the forthcoming World Cup finals. But the FA have been careful in selecting the calibre of their opponents. England should pass this final test with flying colours.
Japan will compete in Group C at this summer’s tournament but aren’t expected to advance past the first round. Their recent form has been just as unspectacular as their qualification campaign, where they finished five points behind Australia.
Despite their limitations, head coach Takeshi Okada has revealed his blindly optimistic belief that Japan can reach the semi-finals of the World Cup – a prediction which has confused not only people from outside the country, but also the Japanese themselves and almost certainly the players as well.
Of course, Okada has some useful players in his squad which threaten to cause England one or two problems this weekend. Midfielder Keisuke Honda, former Celtic playmaker Shansuke Nakamura and 24-year-old striker Shinji Okazaki will give Capello one or two things to ponder; but on paper, England should record a morale-boosting win in Graz.
Within 24 hours of the final whistle blowing in Austria, the England boss is then expected to reveal the 23 names who’ll make up England’s 2010 World Cup squad.
And for seven of the 30, their World Cup dream will end before it’s even begun.
The game against Japan will not help Fabio decide his 23 names. Japan scored three goals but England won 2-1.
Tags: