England to face Uruguay and Japan in World Cup preparations
England will step up their preparations for the World Cup with March friendlies against Uruguay and Japan, reports BritPanorama.
The South American side will visit Wembley on March 27, followed by the match against Japan four days later. This double-header will mark the final home soil games for Thomas Tuchel’s side before their World Cup campaign next summer in North America.
Though the fixtures have been scheduled for some time, the Football Association waited until after last week’s World Cup draw to confirm them. The upcoming matches present a significant opportunity for the England squad, having breezed through qualification with a perfect record.
Uruguay, currently ranked 16th, and 18th-ranked Japan will provide a step up in quality. Both nations are also set to participate in the World Cup, making these matches crucial for Tuchel to finalize his squad ahead of the tournament.
Tuchel expressed satisfaction with the fixtures, stating, “We are really pleased to have these two fixtures confirmed as our World Cup year takes shape. We wanted to play two teams ranked in the top 20 in the world, but also to test ourselves against opponents from outside of Europe. After Friday’s draw, the excitement for next year is really building, and we can’t wait to see our fans again at Wembley.”
England will compete in Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana, and Panama, starting their campaign against Croatia in Dallas on June 17. Additionally, they will face Ghana in Boston on June 23, with the group concluding against Panama in New Jersey on June 27. The recent World Cup draw introduced a new 48-team format, expanding from the previous 32-team structure.
In preparation for the competition, former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate highlighted Japan as one of the teams that could present a formidable challenge. His observations underscore the significance of the upcoming friendlies, allowing Tuchel the chance to evaluate players before the World Cup squad selection in May.
As England approach these key encounters, the balancing act of expectation and evaluation in their World Cup journey continues—an exercise in both ambition and introspection as the national team seeks to forge a path through ultimately unpredictable terrain.
