By Morichika Nakamoto,
Japan's quest for a first Olympic medal in 53 years ended in vain and the failure will be looked back on with huge frustration and regret, especially with the caliber of the players assembled, the home advantage and the early promise shown in the group stage.
Hajime Moriyasu's men failed to produce when it really mattered in the knockout stage, a single goal after going 3-0 down in the bronze-medal match probably a fair reflection of where they currently stand against the caliber of opposition they need to beat at big tournaments.
Having played 120 minutes in both the previous two games, and with players dejected following a semifinal defeat to Spain that denied them a chance at a first major final, Friday's defeat to Mexico was always a possibility.
But the way they capitulated, conceding an early penalty before allowing a free header from a set piece when a medal was at stake, rightly begs a question over their mindset going into a game of this magnitude.
"We might have slacked off, we might not have realized the significance of this game," said Takefusa Kubo, who was in tears on the pitch after the final whistle. "I've never felt as frustrated as this in my football career. I won't forget this feeling."
"The opponents today were not a class above...There won't be a chance like this again."
Having won all three matches in the group stage, including a 2-1 win over Mexico, manager Moriyasu looked as though he had everything clicking.
With the 20-year-old Kubo and Ritsu Doan leading the attack and established overage players Maya Yoshida, Hiroki Sakai and Wataru Endo joining Takehiro Tomiyasu in forming a solid core at the back, the best-prepared Japanese side for the Olympics expected more than a fourth-place finish.
The bronze at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics remains the only medal for Japanese men's football.
Despite the gap having seemingly narrowed with the world's best after six straight World Cup appearances and an increase in the number of Japanese exports to Europe, coming away with a win on the big stage remains a huge hurdle.
"The sense of frustration is huge in not being able to fight it out at the standard set by (the top teams in) the world," said midfielder Ao Tanaka, who is leaving Kawasaki Frontale this summer for Dusseldorf in the German second division.
"I've won the J-League and felt I've grown a lot, but none of my stuff could cut it in the end."
Related coverage:
Olympics: Japan lose to Mexico in men's football bronze medal match
Olympics: Men's football boss Moriyasu says Japan must improve scoring
