Two own goals saved England from embarrassment in their final World Cup warm-up match as they came from behind to beat Japan 2-1 in Graz, Austria, on Sunday.
However, the unconvincing victory threw up as many questions as answers for manager Fabio Capello just 48 hours before he must cut his squad for South Africa from 30 to 23.
The unfortunate Yuji Nakazawa and Marcus “Tulio” Tanaka, who put his side ahead after six minutes, both turned the ball into their own net in the second half — just when it looked as though Japan were heading for the first victory over England in their history.
PHOTO: AFP
Capello admitted that the first-half had left him cold.
“The first-half we were too slow, and allowed them to outpace us and create more than we did,” said the Italian, who added that he knew the final 23, but would not comment on that or about his own future after the World Cup. “In the second, we had more pace and more creativity and gave the Japanese more of a match and stopped them from playing.”
Although Capello can be pleased with the result, there is no hiding the fact that his experimental side under-performed for large sections of the match and needed five second-half substitutions to bring them to life.
At times until then, England were outplayed by a Japan side who went into the friendly fixture low on confidence following three defeats in four games and with manager Takeshi Okada said to be under intense pressure.
Okada’s side were ahead after only six minutes when Glen Johnson lost his man from a Yasuhito Endo corner and Tulio swept home.
The Japanese visibly grew in confidence after that, shaking off memories of recent defeats, including a 2-0 home reverse against South Korea earlier in the week, to dominate possession in areas that England would normally expect to call their own.
The closest Capello’s side came to an equalizer was when Wayne Rooney cleverly found Aaron Lennon inside the area, only for the Tottenham winger’s shot to be well saved by Eiji Kawashima.
However, in truth, Japan were comfortable for most of the opening 45 minutes, even threatening a second when Rio Ferdinand slipped and Shinji Okazaki fired over the bar when well placed to score.
It was no surprise when Capello made five changes at half-time, bringing on Joe Cole, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Jamie Carragher, Joe Hart and Steven Gerrard.
The changes, with Cole playing behind Rooney in a 4-5-1 formation, reaped almost immediate dividends when Frank Lampard earned England a penalty as Honda foolishly handled the Englishman’s free-kick.
However, Lampard’s 55th minute effort from the spot was superbly saved by Kawashima, sparking real celebration in the Japan side and leaving Capello with yet another headache.
Lampard has enjoyed an outstanding season for Chelsea, scoring 27 goals in all competitions, but he has now missed two penalties in a row, having also shot wide in the FA Cup Final.
Japan showed tenacity and energy in all positions, with substitute Daiki Iwamasa coming close to doubling their lead with an excellent left-foot shot that was well saved by Hart after 66 minutes.
Only Rooney kept England going, but Kawashima enjoyed an excellent day, saving one long-range effort comfortably from the Manchester United man and then acrobatically tipping another curling effort over the bar.
However, just when it seemed the Japanese were set to celebrate a landmark victory, they finally cracked, Joe Cole’s near-post cross headed into his own net after 71 minutes by the unfortunate Tanaka.
Then, when Joe Cole fed Ashley Cole down the left 10 minutes later, the Chelsea left-back’s cross was turned into his own net by a sliding Nakazawa, sealing Japan’s fate.
Even then there was time for Hart to save well from Makoto Hasebe and for Ujki Abe to head against the crossbar.
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