JAPAN’s players were devastated after the agonising defeat on penalties by Croatia but coach Hajime Moriyasu opted to look towards a brighter future for his team in the years to come despite their disappointment.
Looking to reach the quarter-finals for the first time, Japan were the livelier side in the first half and took the lead through Daizen Maeda but they faded after Ivan Perisic headed Croatia level following the break and crumbled in the shootout.
