In the space of nearly 24 hours, Japan's hopes at two major international tournaments were extinguished.
On Monday, the Samurai Blue's Copa America campaign ended — not with a bang but with a relative whimper — following a 1-1 draw against Ecuador in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Then came Tuesday in Rennes, France, where a controversial late handball and ensuing penalty kick doomed Nadeshiko Japan to a 2-1 defeat against Netherlands in the FIFA Women's World Cup's round of 16.