England striker Ellen White has experienced both joy and despair in her previous encounters with Japan.
The 30-year-old scored a stunning lob which helped the Lionesses to a 2-0 group stage win over the would-be world champions in 2011.
She was also a key part of the squad four years later when Laura Bassett’s added-time own goal consigned England to an agonising semi-final defeat in Canada.
And with the two sides set to meet at a fourth consecutive World Cup, White says she will always relish coming up against the Asian powerhouses.
“I love playing [against] Japan,” she explained.
“I love what they’re about. They are really lovely people, so humble, and I feel that comes across on the pitch; the way they move the ball, the way they are with each other in terms of their team spirit.
“They will obviously put in a tackle if they have to but they’re all about possession football and winning the right way.
“I’m happy that we get to face them again. They’re another top nation and completely different to playing Germany, France or USA.
“It’s always a tight game against Japan and I think we bring out the best in each other.”
England have already qualified for the knockout stages of France 2019 and need just a point on Wednesday night to secure top spot in Group D.
White’s goal in 2011 was her first at a World Cup, her sixth England goal overall at that stage, and she has only fond memories of that win in Augsburg.
“It’s probably my best goal,” she said. “I remember it so well.
“Scoring that goal was just mental and I remember seeing my dad’s West Ham flag behind the goal.
“I should have scored the bicycle kick as well but the keeper made an unbelievable save. If that had have gone in I would have retired there and then!”
White continued: “We weren’t expected to get anything from that game.
“We really under-performed against Mexico and kind of under-performed against New Zealand as well. We almost relaxed against Japan. We wanted to enjoy the game and we seemed to be in control a lot more.
“We always knew we were a good side but it was about doing it consistently against the top sides.
“Afterwards, it sunk in that we had beaten one of the top nations. We’d beaten the team that would go on to be the world champions.”
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Japan also reached the World Cup final in 2015, but only after edging England in the last four.
The game in Edmonton was heading for extra time when Bassett attempted to clear Nahomi Kawasumi’s right-sided cross. But the ball looped up into the air and beyond Karen Bardsley’s desperate dive to send Mark Sampson’s side crashing out of the tournament.
“It was heartbreaking,” recalled White. “We could have beaten them but for the freakiest own goal on the planet.
“But because we went on to win the bronze-medal match I kind of forget that we even lost that semi-final.
“Look how we responded; we bounced back and beat Germany, when probably not many people thought we would.”
White didn’t score in Canada but is already off the mark in France, courtesy of her 18-yard strike against Scotland in the opening group game.
Phil Neville’s forwards are firing on all cylinders with Nikita Parris and Jodie Taylor also on the scoresheet.
“For a striker, scoring at a World Cup is the pinnacle,” said White.
“But I’m equally as happy celebrating my team-mates’ goals.
“As much as I am a striker and I want to score goals, I love celebrating any England goal. It’s the best feeling in the world.”
