***Official Japan v England Thread***

[Mark (Blue Army)]

[center] v
International friendly
Venue: UPC Arena, Graz
Date: Sunday, 30 May 2010
Kick-off: 1315
[/center]


England team news

The Chelsea contingent, namely John Terry, Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard, will be drafted back in after being rested for Wembley and are likely to reclaim their spots in the starting XI.

Terry is set to step in for Ledley King at centre-back, while Cole is expected to be named at left-back ahead of Leighton Baines and Lampard could return to midfield.

Joe Cole will have to prove his fitness for the left-wing role and even then could lose out on a starting spot to Adam Johnson or James Milner.

Fabio Capello has confirmed that Darren Bent will start, while other hopefuls Scott Parker and Michael Dawson will also be looking to book their seats on the plane.

Between the posts, David James is set to be given a chance to shine after Rob Green and Joe Hart both staked their claim with impressive displays on Monday night.

Gareth Barry is still out with an ankle injury, while Steven Gerrard is expected to be available despite picking up a slight injury in training earlier in the week.

Japan team news

Takeshi Okada's side will be desperately seeking improvement after losing 2-0 to South Korea on home soil earlier this week.

Japan have suffered a severe blow with the news that former Celtic star Shansuke Nakamura could miss the match with an ankle injury.

The midfielder is facing a race to be fit after being substituted in the second half of the South Korea match.

Japan have struggled to find form of late, but midfielder Keisuke Honda and striker Shinji Okazaki could cause problems for Capello's men.

Possible starting XIs

England: James, Johnson, Ferdinand, Terry, Cole, Milner, Lampard, Huddlestone, Lennon, Bent, Rooney.

Japan: Narazaki, Uchida, Nakazawa, Tanaka, Nagatomo, Tamada, Endo, Hasebe, Nakamura, Okazaki, Honda.

[Vhero]

Scared somebody will beat you to the thread?? This is kinda EARLY no?

[Mark (Blue Army)]

Scared somebody will beat you to the thread?? This is kinda EARLY no?

Not really, as im bored shitless.

[Chinners]

Ha ha, posting threads early is the in thing doncha know ... I'm working on next Tuesdays Bollox at the mo.

It would be nice to see Johnsoin get a longer run out but I reckon there may be truth in this 'secret weapon theory going round at the mo.

[bobadji]

3-0 England, Lampard first scorer.

[Beefymcfc]

Well in Mark, was gonna start the thread yesterday (i'm excitable don't you know) but realised that your graphics and professional attitude would see me off. Gheers Pal!

COME ON ENGLAND!!!

[HeyMark]

Where were your threads for the Ireland games? Bloody joke!

[CityGer]

No AJ.

Can't work out whether his lack of game time is a good thing and that Capelo has seen enough to want him on the plane or whether he has not done enough and he wants to look at other combinations. All the chat about his performance in training has been positive and I would have expected him to start one of these games.

[Wonderwall]

No AJ.

Can't work out whether his lack of game time is a good thing and that Capelo has seen enough to want him on the plane or whether he has not done enough and he wants to look at other combinations. All the chat about his performance in training has been positive and I would have expected him to start one of these games.

it is a little worrying for A and SWP that they did not get a chance to start and that Lennon and Walcott either seem to be favoured or they are being scrutinised. Its hard to read into it.

[Slim]

OH FFS, Japan score from a dodgy corner.

[kinkylola]

england's passing out of the back looks woeful so far

[dazby]

What the hell are you all doing? You should be watching Australia v North Korea in the Womens Asia Cup final.

[CityGer]

My God, we look poor.

[Dameerto]

Holy crap, I nearly missed the match - I was expecting a later kick off - so how did the first 35 mins go?

[Im_Spartacus]

Anyone else unfortunate enough to go to the last England vs Japan game at COMS circa 2004/5.

I'm not watching today because I can't put myself through a repeat of the torture of watching that shite all them years back. That was without any shadow of a doubt the worst, most boring game of football I ever seen - and that includes City vs Liverpool

[brite blu sky]

Ha ha.. England are utter crap.

What is the point of Lampard on the field? didn't even notice he was playing until he took the free kick.

They are missing Barry badly.. who wont be playing in the USA opener. Been saying all along they will lose to the USA and on this showing they will lose to Algeria as well.

[shawzy]

Hope AJ comes on 2nd half,This is dire to watch.

[kinkylola]

im definitely feeling better about england v usa watching this

[Dameerto]

Come on Don Capello, give them the hairdryer treatment

[razor400]

Walcot is shte