Tuchel’s England have plenty to prove against Japan after drab Uruguay draw | Jacob Steinberg

His squad has been hit by withdrawals but the manager will aim to improve the mood music at Wembley on Tuesday

A negative reaction to a drab stalemate with Uruguay at Wembley? It sounds familiar. After all, the reviews were hardly glowing when England began the 1966 World Cup with a dismal goalless draw against the South American team. The criticism came from all angles but had become a cautionary tale by the time Bobby Moore had his hands on the Jules Rimet trophy.

Opinions in international football shift quickly. At the moment the mood music around England could be better. Presented with solid and streetwise opposition last Friday, they struggled to lift the tempo. Time to panic? Did it matter that these warm-up games double as learning exercises for Thomas Tuchel as he finalises his World Cup preparations? That what happens in a friendly in March often bears little relation to the real thing in June?