Japan feels sorry it could not come through for Australia against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, but the Socceroos' minimal win over Thailand did not help matters, firing up the Saudis who saw an opportunity they did not let go of to qualify for their first World Cup finals since 2006.
Upon returning from Jeddah, where Vahid Halilhodzic's men ended their qualifying campaign with a 1-0 defeat to the Saudis, Japan Football Association president Kozo Tashima said on Wednesday that as much as Japan would have liked to lend Australia a helping hand, Saudi Arabia was far too motivated to overcome after the Socceroos only squeezed past the Thais 2-1 at home several hours earlier.
Going into the last day of the Asian qualifiers for next year's tournament in Russia, second-place Saudi Arabia was ahead of Australia on goal difference by two in Group B, which Japan won last week with a win at home over the Socceroos.