For veterans of Japan's 2014 World Cup campaign, avenging a painful loss at that tournament to Colombia was cause for only momentary celebration, goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima said Wednesday.
In the buildup to the rematch between the two sides in Saransk on Tuesday, the 35-year-old custodian conceded Japan's 4-1 loss to Colombia in the Brazilian city of Cuiaba had left him and his teammates "suffering for the past four years."
Japan's 2-1 victory over the South Americans at Mordovia Arena went some way toward overcoming the tournament-ending, group-stage loss in Brazil, but the squad has since turned its attention to the upcoming match against Group H opponent Senegal, Kawashima said.