England's Josanne Potter, left, and Laura Bassett, who scored the fatal own goal, leave the field after a 2-1 loss to Japan during a semifinal in the FIFA Women's World Cup soccer tournament, Wednesday, July 1, 2015, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.  [Photo/IC]

Bassett was inconsolable at the end of the match, lying flat on the ground, her face in the turf. She then needed assistance from teammates and her coach before leaving the field.

"This team can't be afraid to cry," England coach Mark Sampson said. "There's nothing wrong with that at all."

It was a torturous finish for the sixth-ranked Lionesses, who have made their deepest run in four World Cup appearances. England had never won an elimination game until this year.

"Of course, when there's a huge disappointment there's going to be an outcry," Sampson added. "But it'll sink in soon what they've achieved and how proud everyone is of their teammate ... and what we've done to put football in our country to a place it's never been before."

England will remain in Edmonton to play top-ranked Germany in the third-place match Saturday. Germany lost 2-0 to the United States on Tuesday.

England lost despite controlling much of the second half against the fourth-ranked Japanese. And that was despite what Sasaki had said a day earlier, when he suggested his players were "superior."