Their constant pressure finally paid off and a header by defender Maya Yoshida secured all three points for the Blue Samurai.

他们不断的进攻压力终于有了回报，后卫吉田麻也的头球确保蓝武士拿到了三分。

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The Netherlands are fancied to do well. Cameroon can cause problems for the Samurai Blue defence and Denmark are solid at the back.

荷兰是最受追捧的球队，喀麦隆持有进攻利剑可能刺伤日本，而丹麦则有坚实的防御之盾。

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But Paraguay's joy was Japan's agony as Yuichi Komano's spot-kick brushed the crossbar and flew over as the Blue Samurai's tournament came to an agonising end.

BBC: Paraguay 0-0 Japan (5-3 pens)

Japan appointed Italian coach Alberto Zaccheroni after Takeshi Okada stood down in July, having taken the "Blue Samurai" into the second round of football's biggest tournament before losing on penalties to Paraguay.

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The Blue Samurai, unchanged for their fourth straight World Cup match, sat deep and attempted to snuff out the opposition, while their opponents conceded a series of niggling fouls every time Japan looked to strike on the counter.

BBC: Paraguay 0-0 Japan (5-3 pens)