International friendly LIVE: England vs Japan – text updates, radio commentary, stats & head-to-head

England are unbeaten in their three games against Japan, beating them 2-1 in both June 1995 in the Umbro Cup and in a May 2010 friendly, while they shared a 1-1 draw in June 2004.

An Asian nation has never previously beaten England in 10 attempts (D4 L6) – this is England’s first game against an Asian team since a 6-2 win over IR Iran in November 2022 at the FIFA World Cup.

England have won just two of their last seven friendly matches (D2 L3), having won 12 consecutively between 2018 and 2023 beforehand.

England have scored in their last 21 matches in all competitions since a 0-0 draw with Slovenia at EURO 2024. It’s their longest scoring streak since a 32-game run between 1902 and 1910.

Japan are unbeaten in in their last seven matches against European nations in all competitions (W6 D1), winning each of their last three against Germany, Türkiye and Scotland. Indeed, they’ve won four in a row twice before in May 2009 and February 2013.

10 of England’s last 18 goals have come via set piece situations (5x corner, 3x free-kick, 2x penalty), with 40% of those being scored or assisted by Arsenal players.

England’s Harry Kane has scored 10 goals across his last 10 international appearances, while he could score 2+ goals in successive matches for the national team for the first time since November 2021 against Albania (3) and San Marino (4).  

Japan’s Junya Ito has four goal involvements across his last three matches (1 goal, 3 assists) and could score in successive matches for the national team for the first time since September 2023 (run of three).