For Cesare Prandelli, there was the feeling of a job done not necessarily well in defensive terms at least, but he was sufficiently moved to praise his team's battling qualities after they came back from the brink after going two goals down in the opening 33 minutes.
For compatriot Alberto Zaccheroni, there were mixed feelings - he saluted the fightback by the land of his birth yet, cast in this drama as the coach of the Blue Samurai, he also felt Japan's pain after they came so close to an upset.
Prandelli had waged psychological warfare beforehand by insisting that the Japanese could be seen as favourites having had an extra day to prepare, though the Asian champions still do not possess the pedigree of four world titles.
In the event, it was nearly honours even until substitute Sebastian Giovinco pounced to net the dramatic winner four minutes from time.
"We had to go for the win as we had had no points on the board," said Zaccheroni, whose men raced into a 2-0 lead through Keisuke Honda's penalty and a second from Manchester United playmaker Shinji Kagawa.
Goals from Daniele de Rossi, an Atsuto Uchida OG and Mario Balotelli saw the Italians turn the tie on its head only for Shinji Okazaki to level things midway through the second period.
The game looked to be headed for the draw until Giovinco stepped off the bench to make himself a hero and deny the Japanese, runners up in 2001, a chance of reaching the semis.
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