SAITAMA, Japan -- After the high of becoming the first team to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, perhaps it was always impossible for Japan to back it up against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
But even with expectations diluted, a 0-0 draw with the Green Falcons -- only the second match in 14 outings in the Asian qualifiers that the Samurai Blue failed to win -- was a bit of a letdown for the 58,003 that had gathered at Saitama Stadium 2002.
At best, the match could be described as lacklustre. In truth, it was a dour affair -- not aided by the lack of adventure Saudi Arabia showed as they evidently were satisfied to head home with a point that could prove valuable in their quest to join their opponents as Group C's second automatic qualifiers.
To avoid being overly critical of a side who admittedly have hardly put a foot wrong since their campaign started back in November 2023, it must be recognised that -- having booked their World Cup ticket last week -- Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu made a very valid decision to ring some changes to his regular starting XI.
Six, in total, from the lineup that started in the crucial 2-0 win over Bahrain five days earlier.
When the final whistle blew, even the usually-staunch Samurai Blue faithful let out an unmistakable murmur of indifference as opposed to the deafening roars that had greeted the previous victory after victory.
Despite Tuesday's hangover after their earlier euphoria, perhaps there are several positives to take from the result -- especially if they are to, not just feature, but challenge for the World Cup as has been repeatedly stated by the Japan Football Association hierarchy.
Drawing with Saudi Arabia is hardly a disastrous result, considering the Green Falcons are -- like Japan -- widely regarded to be among the continent's top echelon.
Japan are no strangers to opposition teams sitting back and defending deep against them but, when it is a side of Saudi Arabia's quality, they ultimately failed to find a way through.
A similar scenario occurred at the last World Cup with Japan's sole defeat in the group stage, which was sandwiched by remarkable wins over Germany and Spain, coming against a Costa Rica side who absorbed all the pressure that was coming their way before hitting Moriyasu's men with a sucker punch.
Moriyasu still needs to figure out alternative ways to break open Japan's opponents especially if Plan A does not work.
In the closing stages of Tuesday's game, that Japan resorted to swinging in hopeful balls into the Saudi Arabia box would not have been the biggest concern.
Instead, it would have been the fact that, in sheer desperation, numerous of these deliveries were sent straight out of play -- with Junya Itō and Keito Nakamura the main culprits.
Given a chance to impress from the start, Nakamura displayed plenty of endeavour but failed to beat his direct opponent on numerous occasions -- which leads to the next aspect that Moriyasu could be focusing on.
With a settled starting XI which was served him well, Moriyasu has rarely tinkered unless necessary.
While his strongest lineup remains formidable, the jury is still out on several of his depth options.
Against lesser opposition, the likes of Itō, Daichi Kamada and Daizen Maeda have been able to deliver eye-catching cameos off the bench.
On Thursday, when given an opportunity against stronger opponents -- with Kamada and Maeda both starting -- none of them really gave Moriyasu a real reason to feel their chance should have come earlier.
Ultimately, it was regular starters Wataru Endō, Takefusa Kubo and Kō Itakura who looked the likeliest to drag the hosts over the line.
That is not to say that Japan have been flattered by their dominant qualification displays. In any other campaign, their record would still have been remarkable.
Nonetheless, this is a different Japan.
This is a Japan that, after eight consecutive appearances, are no longer satisfied with just reaching the World Cup.
They have publicly stated they are in it to win it. By 2050, but hopefully sooner.
A side worthy of winning the World Cup would have found a way past the stubborn Saudi Arabians on Tuesday.
In his defence, Moriyasu has already stated that Japan still have plenty of improvement between now and when the World Cup comes around.
He might quietly be pleased that Tuesday's disappointing result has given him an inkling of where his work can begin.