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 ¡ª not with a bang but with a relative whimper ¡ª 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.
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