It might have been a glaring defensive error from Koji Nakata that gifted Latvia a 2-2 draw in Saturday's friendly in Riga, but namesake Hidetoshi Nakata believes victory could have been achieved if Japan had shown more of a killer instinct in front of goal.
"We had chances to score more goals in the first half. We didn't and that's why the game ended with this result," Hidetoshi Nakata said after the match.
"Our inability to put away our chances is still something that needs to be put right," added the Bolton Wanderers star, who was wearing the captain's armband for the first time since March 2004.
He said ahead of the match that Japan's tendency to crack when the pressure is on is another problem that needs addressing and his words rung true as the Asian champion collapsed after Latvia reduced the deficit on 67 minutes through Vits Rimkus.