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At the dawn of Tokyo, Japanese fans had dared to believe that their team was about to make history of the World Cup. But a few minutes later, the dream was over
In a bar of a Tokyo business district, the air came out of the room while Belgium found the net in added time , scoring a third goal to seal the fate of Japan. 19659003] Just a little earlier, shouts of joy had invaded the Shinagawa district pub in Tokyo as the Blue Samurai scored a second goal, defying hopes of going 2-0 against starry Belgium.
But when the final whistle After winning the last game of Japan in the history of the World Cup 3-2, the fans sat in an almost absolute silence and looked at the screen with disbelief
"I am so frustrated," said 32-year-old Ryota Iwakiri.
"The game was like a roller coaster, they made us dream of a win at one point, they really had a good run," he said. Yuki Kakishita, a real estate agent
Fans at the bar, some dressed in the blue band of their team and Japanese sports flags on their cheeks, had exploded with joy when Takashi Inui scored the second goal of the team. # 39; team.
"We were so excited when Japan took the lead, but Belgium was so tough," said Shimon Otomo, a businessman still wearing his suit and tie.
Many fans watching the game at a public screening could be seen head in hand at the end of the Japanese campaign. The disappointment was overwhelming despite the low expectations that accompanied the team in the tournament.
After several bad performances leading to the World Cup, and a decision of the bosses to dismiss coach Vahid Halilhodzic at the 11th hour, many feared that Japan
And the new coach Akira Nishino was bitterly criticized for ordering the team to run in the last game of the group stage, knowing that a 1-0 defeat against Poland would be enough to allow them to move forward. 19659013] For some fans however, there was consolation to having in the fact that the team has done so far, and has become so close to a quarter-final unprecedented
"We lost it, but they left everything pitch," conceded Sawa Okada, 23 years old "Japan has shown people that they are competitive on the world stage", has added Iwakiri
"Japan almost killed the giant."
World Cup fever seized from Japan The next morning, at 3 am, in Tokyo, people started drifting from the bar, heading to the metro where the commuters were already arriving at the office 19659019] "It was worth staying awake late to watch it," Otomo said, preparing a badtail and arranging his suit. 19659014] "I will have to go straight to the office now, time to work hard again. "
Japanese fans react with dread as their team escapes from the World Cup after Belgium scored in the final seconds
Japanese fans rallied in bars and on big screens to watch the last 16 clashes
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