Japan reached the round of 16 for the fourth time at a World Cup. It got knocked out in the round of 16 for the fourth time in a 3-1 loss to Croatia on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw in regulation and extra time.

EXPECTATION VS. PERFORMANCE

Coach Hajime Moriyasu said for months that the Japan team’s goal was to reach the quarterfinals for the first time. So by that standard, Japan under-performed.

However, 2-1 victories over former World Cup champions Spain and Germany in the group stage showed Japan has improved enough to compete with top soccer nations.

Moriyasu talked of still needing to improve, but the coach said his players “can look eye-to-eye with anyone now.”

WHO’S OUT?

Fullback Yuto Nagatomo, 36, and goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima, 39, have each been on four World Cup squads and certainly will not return. Nagatomo played in all four games, but Kawashima never left the bench. Instead he served as a veteran mentor to the young team.

Captain and defender Maya Yoshida was in his third World Cup and, at 34, most likely his last.