Japan have left town, but they are still the team everyone is talking about at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Hamilton.

In the latest round of group matches at Waikato Stadium, Germany and Korea PDR grafted to a 1-1 draw last night to both proceed to the quarterfinals from Group B. Then Canada and Denmark trudged through an often dour scoreless stalemate to emerge as the successful teams from a Group A.

But while it made for a happy group ending for all four teams on show in Hamilton, it also left many of the 3283 fans suffering withdrawal symptoms from the absence of the Japanese.

Germany and Korea DPR are resolute and well-drilled teams, while Canada and Denmark are similarly tenacious, and they have all had their moments.

But none of them possess the X factor which made Japan such addictive viewing on the first two match days.

The contrast was such that the success of these four quarterfinalists – all worthy in their own ways – perversely only served to underline how special Japan had been, with their electrifying movement, mercurial skills and keen eye for an attacking chance.

For all that, Korea DPR have already shown in qualifying they have the measure of the Japanese, while the Germans gave a hint they would be well enough organised to assert their physical superiority in a head-to-head meeting.

The Koreans, who played up to stereotypical pre-conceptions by all sporting the same pageboy-style haircuts, received magnificent sideline support. Waikato’s Korean community formed a small enclave at the front of the Wel Energy Trust stand, where they incessantly chanted and banged pots, pans, or anything they could find.

It was something leathery-faced coach Rl Ui Ham said gave great heart to his players, though Korea seldom appealed as a team driven primarily by emotion. Their play was generally crisp and concise, but like Germany, they lacked the spontaneity and unpredictability of Japan in the attacking third.

German coach Ralf Peter said it was the first time the Koreans had shown "their true face" in the tournament and warned they would be hard to beat in future rounds.

But that sums up most of the tournament teams. They are hard to beat.

So far Japan stand apart, because, by contrast, they are hard to stop from scoring.

Meanwhile Canadian coach Bryan Rosenfield saw plenty of promise in the two teams which failed to qualify from his team’s very even group.

Colombia, like many South American countries, were an emerging force in women’s football, he said.

"They bring some magnificent things to the game that we don’t have in North America," he said. "As soon as they get the athleticism more, it is going to be tough to beat the South Americans."

And yet he was not surprised that New Zealand beat them 3-1.

"New Zealand comes out and plays hard. It is always tough to play the host country, and of course they (NZ) wanted to come out and show that ‘hey, we are a good team’ and can beat some of the good teams. "

He said New Zealand had similarly been very competitive against his team and Denmark.

"They just didn’t get it on the day. I felt sorry for them, becuase they worked hard and deserved it as well."