Listening to the podcasts today, seems like the Japanese media were at first very delighted with getting to second round, then they started processing the international criticism about the last 15 minutes of the japan-poland game, comments about the gamesmanship of Japan and "lack of football spirit" etc....
I think there seems to have been pressure for them to play a "good football game" rather than results orientated football, which turned out to bite them in the end.
In summary, screw what the world thinks of you. Only results matter.
All hail CQ.