JAPAN - O TURKEY - 1The Turkish team had a major scare on their way here when their privately chartered plane hit an air pocket and briefly plummeted towards the ground.It was Japan's World Cup dream, however, along with the rain, which came crashing down to earth here, setting off a flood of tears among the majority in the 45,000 crowd and a wave of mourning across the Land of the Rising Sun.
In the end the young turks of Japan, playing in the second round of the World Cup for the first time, were no match for the true Turks who, playing in only their second World Cup, qualified for the quarter-finals for the first time. They face Senegal on Saturday.
Japan may be out of the World Cup but their players and supporters should not be down. Philippe Troussier's men have acquitted themselves well throughout a campaign which has captivated a nation where the number one sport is baseball.
Troussier said: "Our great adventure is over. Today I was very proud to be their coach and to have worn the Japanese shirt for four years. I say bravo to this Japanese team."
From the moment Japan kicked off their World Cup campaign it was obvious that their main weakness was in the air. Not surprisingly, it was a 12th-minute header from Umit Davala which put Turkey into the lead and eventually broke Japanese hearts. A defensive lapse led to Japan putting the ball out for a corner, from which the mohawk head of Davala rose unmarked to place the ball in the back of the net.
Japan just could not find a way through the Turkish back four and a tough midfield superbly marshalled by Hasan Sas. But the rain lashing down did not dampen their spirits as they went in search of a goal to prolong their World Cup dream.
Alex, a naturalised Japanese of Brazilian origin, hit the post towards the end of the first half from a free-kick and then headed just over the bar, and there were gasps of disbelief when he and Junichi Inamoto did not appear after the interval, having been substituted. It was left to Hidetoshi Nakata to carry the responsibility of driving on Japan in search of an equaliser but time after time he was let down by his strikers.
As referee Pierluigi Collina sounded the final whistle, Japan's players crumpled to the soggy ground in tears. Their hearts may be broken but their spirit should remain intact.
SUBSTITUTES: Japan: Suzuki for Alex and Ichikawa for Inamoto (both 46 mins), Morishima for Ichikawa (86 mins). Turkey: Kahveci for Davala (74 mins); Havutcu for Sas (85 mins); Mansiz for Basturk (90 mins).
YELLOW CARDS: Japan - Toda. Turkey - Alpay, Penbe, Sukur.
