Women's World Cup 2015: How can England beat Japan in semi-final? Faye White talks tactics...
Wednesday 1 July 2015 23:16, UK
They've been likened to Barcelona and are the current world champions so how should England tackle Japan? Former captain Faye White talks tactics, ahead of the Women's World Cup semi-final...
Mark Sampson's side reached the last four for the first time with a 2-1 victory over hosts Canada, goals from Jodie Taylor and Lucy Bronze securing a historic win in Vancouver.
Standing in their way of a place in the final are defending champions Japan, who have won all five of their matches and have been likened to Luis Enrique's treble-winners for their tiki-taka style of possession play.
White, who made 90 appearances for England and played alongside Japan internationals at former club Arsenal, tells Sky Sports about the challenge the Lionesses face and how they might approach the game in the early hours of Thursday morning...
What can England expect from Japan?
WHITE SAYS: The Japanese team are the most technically advanced team in this tournament. All their players are comfortable on the ball with their right and left foot.
When I toured Japan as a player with Arsenal, you could see the way they approached training and how disciplined and thorough they were. There were two Japanese players at Arsenal and they were always the first to arrive for training. They’d be doing pre-training for training! Here were two world champions (Japan won the 2011 World Cup) and their attitude to training was at a totally different level.
Everything the Japanese players do, they do it properly – they don't cut any corners. They will look to pass, pass, pass. They are happy to be in their own half for five minutes without going forward. There are few long balls because they are not a tall team; their set pieces are intricate
In 2011 when we played Japan, we looked to frustrate them and not allow them to play through us.
We chose the right time to win the ball back and hit them on the counter. We kept it tight and they didn’t seem to have a plan B. We had to defend resolutely but our back line for that game was brilliant. It could be similar on Wednesday night.
How will England approach the game?
WHITE SAYS: I wouldn’t have thought (coach) Mark Sampson will suddenly go gung-ho against a team who are the most technically gifted and will look to play the ball play around you. The personnel (from the Canadian win) may change slightly.
He will still have a go at them but he will probably show them a bit more respect than the hosts. The Canada game was also a match-up against an Englishman in John Herdman. The pair knew how each other played.
Against Japan, Sampson may adopt a more cautious approach and, as we grow into the game, we can then impose themselves. Physically Japan may struggle, despite their technical superiority. We need to get close to them at the right times and win the ball back.
Can England go all the way?
WHITE SAYS: My heart says yes, my head is a bit more cautious. Germany and the USA have all the experience of the big games and that will be massive in a final at a World Cup. We felt that in the European final when we were beaten by Germany in 2009. We would have to be at our absolute best, plus get a big slice of fortune; a decision from the referee or a shot hitting the post.
Having said that, we are in a great position and the players will believe. We could go into that game knowing we aren’t expected to win and that’s when I believe we play at our best.
We still have to learn how to cope with the pressure and expectation, although we have shown improvements in our last two games. We are better when we have no fear and play with our shackles off.
Follow England v Japan - KO 0030 (Wed night/Thurs morning) - on our live blog via skysports.com or the Sky Sports apps.
