England Lionesses meet Japan on neurtal soil at Pinatar Arena, Murcia, Spain in an international friendly.
This clash comes as Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses continue their preparation for 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Team News
Lucy Bronze is ruled out for England after she tested positive for Coronavirus and is currently self-isolating at the team hotel.
Alex Greenwood (knock) has been allowed to sit out this friendly and could return for next week’s friendly clash against Norway.
Jordan Nobbs and Lauren Hemp will be absent after the pair withdrew from the squad due to injury, whilst Fran Kirby pulled out due to a viral infection and has been replaced by Jess Park.
Japan have no fresh injury concerns to report with a squad boasting familiar Women’s Super League faces; Risa Shimizu, Yui Hasegawa, Honoka Hayashi and Mana Iwabuchi.
When is England vs Japan?
England’s friendly against Japan will take place on Friday 11 November and will be broadcast live on ITV4 in UK, with kick-off at 7pm GMT UK Time.
Stat Attack
- England are unbeaten in four of their last five meetings against Japan in all competitions (W3, D1, L1).
- Japan drew 1-1 in their only previous proper international friendly against England in June 2013 (D1), although they have also met in various invitional friendly tournaments over the decades.
- Failure to score here would mark the first time that England have failed to find the net in consecutive matches under Wiegman.
- Japan are unbeaten in five of their last seven international friendlies played outside of their home country (W2, D3, L2).
- Alessia Russo has scored in each of England’s last two matches in all competitions to be played outside of England (W2).
Prediction
Having endured two contrastable performances against USA and Czech Republic last month, Wiegman surely will be eager to see a return to England’s fast-flowing attack with sharp end product which was certainly missing against the Czechs in Brighton.
Japan meanwhile are unbeaten in their last 13 matches and boast a strong-quality squad who will certainly pose serious issues, especially in the second-half when they seem to unlock their shackles more than in opening halves so don’t discount them here.
England though seem to have had the measure of their Japanese opposition in recent meetings but they will need to show more of their grit if they’re to get anything here, because this Japan team can’t be underestimated.
Prediction: England 1-1 Japan
Result: England 4-0 Japan
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