The Japanese Football Association said Shunsuke Nakamura would join coach Hajime Moriyasu’s backroom staff for the World Cup, where Japan has been drawn in Group F with the Netherlands, Tunisia and Sweden.

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From Algeria to Uzbekistan, our writers and contributors from around the world assess the state of the 48 nations to qualify for the tournament “There’s more talent and potential than in 2022,” Kylian Mbappé said ominously this week after France had beaten Brazil 2-1 despite having Dayot Upamecano sent off after 55 minutes. He may well be right. For the second game of this window, against Colombia, Didier Deschamps changed the entire starting XI but was still able to field an attack of Marcus Thuram, Désiré Doué, Rayan Cherki and Maghnes Akliouche. Doué scored two in a comfortable 3-1 victory. “I’m well aware that there are some very good players that I won’t be bringing because, in my opinion, there are even better ones,” Deschamps said. Marcus Christenson

On Wednesday's Football Daily, Phil Egan rounds off all the international action as Ireland’s campaign ends with a 0-0 draw with North Macedonia at the Aviva Stadium. Troy Parrott has two goals ruled out for offside, with the second likely standing if VAR had been available. Senior debuts for James Abankwah and Bosun Lawal, while Harvey Vale makes his first Dublin appearance. Mark Travers replaces Caoimhin Kelleher at half-time; Seamus Coleman receives a standing ovation on what could be his final Ireland outing. A total of 17 substitutions made, with Johnny Kenny going close late after Adam Idah’s flick. Head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson describes the game as “strange” after the stalemate. Bosun Lawal reflects on a proud moment making his senior international debut. Nearly 40,000 fans attend; Jayson Molumby praises the continued support. Assistant coach John O’Shea calls working with Ireland a privilege amid contract uncertainty. Finn Azaz impresses in attack, with Hallgrimsson highlighting his growing importance. Ireland U21s beat Kazakhstan 1-0, and the U17s qualify for another World Cup after a 7-0 win over Slovakia. League of Ireland coverage returns with Drogheda United hosting Bohemians. Italy miss a third straight World Cup after losing on penalties to Bosnia-Herzegovina. Sweden, Türkiye, DR Congo, Czechia and Iraq confirm World Cup qualification. Scotland lose to Côte d’Ivoire, England fall to Japan, and Northern Ireland draw with Wales in friendly action. Become a member and sign up at offtheball.com/join

The smattering of Japanese fans who witnessed a huge victory for their nation earnt further credit by tidying up the away section before leaving Wembley and heading into London.

England's final friendly before Thomas Tuchel names his World Cup squad ended in disaster with a 1-0 home defeat by Japan.

IAN LADYMAN: Fast, devastatingly clinical and easy on the eye. This was a great night for Japanese football at Wembley. As for Thomas Tuchel's England, this was the 90 minutes from hell.

Canada's scoring woes resurfaced, but so did a new attacking wrinkle as the World Cup opener in Toronto gets ever closer

Japan’s goal wasn’t Palmer’s fault and Mainoo couldn’t track back, but Tuchel will now see the scale of what faces him To see a world in a grain of meaningless friendly. It has become a habit to say you don’t learn anything from these games. This isn’t strictly true. You just don’t learn anything new. But it’s all still there, ready to be decoded like a set of sporting tea leaves. On a strangely empty night at Wembley Stadium – also known as “a night at Wembley Stadium” – the opening half-hour of this 1-0 England defeat against Japan was fluffy, formless and free from any real edge. But that half-hour was also hugely telling, packed with echoes, ghosts and patterns. Another March friendly: another note in the never-ending story of England footballdom, an epic poem in 1,080 parts.