THREE years after England heartbreakingly lost a World Cup semi-final to Japan, the u20 Lionesses suffered the same fate in Brittany as they were comprehensively outplayed yesterday.

As in Edmonton, England made a bright start, creating a chance within two minutes as Chloe Kelly ran through onto Lauren Hemp’s straight pass, turned onto her left foot and drew a scrambling low save from Japanese goalkeeper Hannah Stambaugh.

However, it was to prove a false dawn as Japan asserted their technical superiority with a short-passing style that left their opponents chasing shadows.