South Korea hammered the Germans, and Japan very nearly did the same to Belgium, but Asia's representatives are once again heading home before the business end of the World Cup gets going.
The Samurai Blue looked like providing the biggest shock yet of a tournament riddled with upsets when they led the richly talented Belgians 2-0 with half an hour to play on Monday, only to lose 3-2 in the last minute of stoppage time.
Understandably, the Japanese were shattered by the end to their dream of reaching the last eight for the first time and becoming Asia's first World Cup quarter-finalists since the continent hosted the tournament in 2002.
