Japan were once again on the verge of the World Cup quarter-finals but Croatia's nous and experience got them over the line on Monday.
Japan boss Hajime Moriyasu masterminded shock victories over Germany and Spain to top their group and they pushed the finalists from four years ago all the way to penalties.
But, having captured the adoration of those watching with likeable fans who chant and bang their drums all game, it was another tournament that ended in heartbreak.
In 2018, they led 2-0 in the last 16 against Belgium and lost to a 94th-minute winner from Nacer Chadli.
This time, they suffered agony in the shootout.
"We could not break through the round of 16 and could not see a new landscape," said Moriyasu. "We won against Germany and Spain who have been champions.
"The players showed a new era of Japanese football and they should use this feeling of being upset to try to win next time."
In the shootout, Takumi Minamino, Kaoru Mitoma and skipper Maya Yoshida all saw their efforts saved by Dominik Livakovic, with Takuma Asano the only one successful.
Former England captain Alan Shearer said on BBC One: "It was so frustrating from a Japanese point of view, it was like they have never practiced penalties, it looked that way. It was too big for them.
"The Japan penalty takers looked so casual. All three of them, I don't think any of them struck them as hard as they wanted to."
Ex-England midfielder Jermaine Jenas added: "That Japan side will be devastated. They put absolutely everything they had into it but the experience of Croatia - they've been there done it, been in penalty shootouts."
Defeat means Japan have now been eliminated in the last 16 in all four of their appearances at that stage in World Cup finals.
BBC
