England vs Japan LIVE: Stream, score, goal updates as Ellen White scores in Women’s World Cup match
Follow LIVE updates as Phil Neville’s England play their final Group D match
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Your support makes all the difference.England are looking to make it three from three when they take on Japan in the Women’s World Cup on Wednesday night.
Phil Neville’s side have already beaten Scotland and Argentina in Group D and will secure top spot if they avoid defeat at the Allianz Riviera. The Lionesses are growing in confidence under Neville, with Nikita Parris and Ellen White scoring against Scotland and Jodie Taylor scoring against Argentina.
The England boss must decide whether to rotate to remain fresh for the knock-out phase or maintain their momentum. Follow LIVE coverage below.
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Match Prediction: Japan 0-2 England
The Lionesses succumbed to defeat against Japan in heart-breaking fashion at the last World Cup, losing 2-1 in the semi-finals via a stoppage-time own goal. Since then, England have grown from strength to strength and emerged as one of the sport's best teams. They notably beat Japan 3-0 at the SheBelieves Cup and now have the opportunity to reap revenge for the pain of their last World Cup outing.
Having demonstrated their maturity and composure to beat Argentina 1-0 win, England's place in the knockout stages of the competition is secured. Avoiding defeat against Japan on Wednesday would see them top Group D and go on to face China, Chile or Cameroon in the last-16 - a kind draw that would put them in good stead for the later stages of the tournament.
Japan pose a greater threat than either Scotland or Argentina but with confidence riding high, and qualification out of the group stages already wrapped up, expect to see a free and expressive England side take to the field. Their possession-based, patient style of play means this is unlikely to be a high-scoring affair but with the likes of Fran Kirby, Beth Mead and Jodie Taylor threatening against Argentina, there's no doubt Phil Neville's women will be looking to take the game to their Japanese opponents.
World Cup memories
England remember the 2015 World Cup in Canada fondly. They came third, their highest ever finish, but lost in the semi-final to Japan.
The Lionesses were the underdogs on that occasion but they took the game deep until a Laura Bassett own goal in the 90th minute gave Japan the victory.
It's a different story tonight though. Japan are in a rebuilding phase and have dropped to seventh in the World rankings, four places lower than England.
England also won the last match between the two sides, 3-0 in the SheBelieves Cup in March this year.
Phil Neville on the changes to England's starting XI
"We've got Demi Stokes and Toni Duggan back, who are keen to play and we need to get them minutes. Stokes, Bright, Houghton and Lucy Bronze, we haven't managed to play that back four a lot in my time as manager, maybe only once or twice so it's important to get that back four playing again. Nikita [Parris] and Fran [Kirby] have put in an unbelievable shift in, as well as Beth Mead in the last two games so we thought freshening it up in wide areas would give us the pace, the energy and the speed to cause Japan problems.
"We've just spoke before the game about our objectives. Our objective is to finish top of the group but it's not because of the path we want to take it's because of the momentum we want to build. We're treating this game as almost a practice for the knockout rounds, we want to win the game, they have to win the game to finish top so I think it's going to be a really entertaining game."
Spice up the World Cup
Kick off is under ten minutes away and even the Spice Girls are ready for this match:
Japan coach Asako Takakura on facing England
"We don't have a negative impression about that defeat [in the SheBelieves Cup].
"We managed to try all the things that we wanted to - to test ourselves. Now we are in a wonderful tournament and we are going to play against a wonderful team and we're really looking forward to it.
"Our team has character as a squad and I want them to fulfil their potential."
Kick off is imminent
The teams come out onto the pitch, the anthems are played and sung. The ceremonies conclude and the action is next.
England vs Japan with the Group D top spot up for grabs.
Japan 0 - 0 England
Kick off: Japan start the match, but England win the ball quickly. They attack the left wing but give away a free kick.
Japan 0 - 0 England
3 mins: Japan take control of the ball and switch the play from right to left. Iwabuchi loses the ball and England look to push forward but are forced back. Houghton gives the ball away and Yokoyama receives the ball, she shoots but sends it wide,
Japan 0 - 0 England
6 mins: Stanway gets the ball to Scott as England run forward on the break. Endo gets back and puts the ball out for an England throw in.
Japan 0 - 0 England
9 mins: Toni Duggan plays a loose pass and gives the ball away. England have started a little sloppily so far. Japan bring the ball to the edge of England's box and win a free kick.
Yokoyama eyes it up, shoots and Bardsley dives to her right and tips the ball onto the crossbar. Great save from Bardsley!
Japan 0 - 0 England
12 mins: England's newish back four keep getting drawn into the ball and are allowing Japan a lot of space in front of goal. A bit more composure is needed from the defenders.
Bright tries to play a long through ball up to Duggan but it gets interecpted. England win the ball back high up the pitch and Stanway shoots from range winning a corner with a deflection.
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