Fans lament end of Japan’s brave run in World Cup

Some Samurai Blue fans watched the match in a Tokyo sports bar, undeterred by the rain and a midnight start. They booked their seats at the bar in hopes of witnessing Japan reach the last eight for the first time, but were sorely disappointed.

Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Round of 16 – Japan v Croatia – Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah, Qatar – December 5, 2022 Japan fans react after the penalty shootout as Japan are eliminated from the World Cup. Photo: Reuters

“My mind went blank … I had no emotion whatsoever,” 21-year-old university student Shun Hasegawa said on Tuesday with tears welling up in his eyes as he described the moment Japan lost the shootout.

“The match was decided by a penalty kick, so it was a 50-50 chance for Japan to win or lose. I think penalty shootouts are a bit like a random draw … it’s just so frustrating to think that there was a 50% chance that Japan could have won,” he added.

Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Fans in Tokyo watch Japan v Croatia – Tokyo, Japan – December 6, 2022 Japan fans look dejected at the Bee bar after the penalty shootout as Japan are eliminated from the World Cup. Photo: Reuters

Fans in turn clutched at their hair and whelped with joy as they watched Japan open the scoring through Daizen Maeda in the 43rd minute, before an equaliser by Croatia’s Ivan Perisic left the two teams deadlocked at 1-1 until the penalty shootout.

Spot kicks by Takumi Minamino, Kaoru Mitoma and Maya Yoshida were all kept out by Croatia’s Dominik Livakovic. Ultimately, a stunned silence fell when the Croatians secured the win as Mario Pasalic sent Japan keeper Shuichi Gonda the wrong way.

Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Fans in Tokyo watch Japan v Croatia – Tokyo, Japan – December 6, 2022 A Japan fan looks dejected at the Bee bar after the penalty shootout as Japan are eliminated from the World Cup. Photo: Reuters

“It was so fun to watch from start to finish, and it really left an impression on me,” said 35-year-old Ryosuke Kabe.

“Every single player put everything they had on the line. It was moving to watch them all fight with everything they had.”

Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Fans in Tokyo watch Japan v Croatia – Tokyo, Japan – December 6, 2022 Japan fans look dejected at the Bee bar after the penalty shootout as Japan are eliminated from the World Cup. Photo: Reuters

The Samurai Blue had staged a stunning turnaround against Spain to reach the knockout rounds for the fourth time by topping their group after they started the tournament with a comeback win over Germany before losing to Costa Rica.

TOKYO — Japan supporters lamented the team’s 3-1 penalty shootout loss to Croatia at the World Cup in Qatar, crushing their nation’s dream of advancing to the quarter-finals.

Some Samurai Blue fans watched the match in a Tokyo sports bar, undeterred by the rain and a midnight start. They booked their seats at the bar in hopes of witnessing Japan reach the last eight for the first time, but were sorely disappointed.

Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Round of 16 – Japan v Croatia – Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah, Qatar – December 5, 2022 Japan fans react after the penalty shootout as Japan are eliminated from the World Cup. Photo: Reuters

“My mind went blank … I had no emotion whatsoever,” 21-year-old university student Shun Hasegawa said on Tuesday with tears welling up in his eyes as he described the moment Japan lost the shootout.

“The match was decided by a penalty kick, so it was a 50-50 chance for Japan to win or lose. I think penalty shootouts are a bit like a random draw … it’s just so frustrating to think that there was a 50% chance that Japan could have won,” he added.

Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Fans in Tokyo watch Japan v Croatia – Tokyo, Japan – December 6, 2022 Japan fans look dejected at the Bee bar after the penalty shootout as Japan are eliminated from the World Cup. Photo: Reuters

Fans in turn clutched at their hair and whelped with joy as they watched Japan open the scoring through Daizen Maeda in the 43rd minute, before an equaliser by Croatia’s Ivan Perisic left the two teams deadlocked at 1-1 until the penalty shootout.

Spot kicks by Takumi Minamino, Kaoru Mitoma and Maya Yoshida were all kept out by Croatia’s Dominik Livakovic. Ultimately, a stunned silence fell when the Croatians secured the win as Mario Pasalic sent Japan keeper Shuichi Gonda the wrong way.

Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Fans in Tokyo watch Japan v Croatia – Tokyo, Japan – December 6, 2022 A Japan fan looks dejected at the Bee bar after the penalty shootout as Japan are eliminated from the World Cup. Photo: Reuters

“It was so fun to watch from start to finish, and it really left an impression on me,” said 35-year-old Ryosuke Kabe.

“Every single player put everything they had on the line. It was moving to watch them all fight with everything they had.”

Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Fans in Tokyo watch Japan v Croatia – Tokyo, Japan – December 6, 2022 Japan fans look dejected at the Bee bar after the penalty shootout as Japan are eliminated from the World Cup. Photo: Reuters

The Samurai Blue had staged a stunning turnaround against Spain to reach the knockout rounds for the fourth time by topping their group after they started the tournament with a comeback win over Germany before losing to Costa Rica.

The post Fans lament end of Japan’s brave run in World Cup appeared first on Vietexplorer.com.

View more from VietExplorer:

Festival introduces traditional cakes of southern region
Kieu Ky gilding craft revives thanks to artisans’ creativity
Ha Giang tourism to be promoted virtually
Three beautiful sacred mountains in Vietnam
Online theatre keeps arts alive during pandemic
Bodhi leaf paintings
HCMC Lockdown: Indian Restaurant Owner Donates Hundreds of Meals to Struggling Residents
Top 6 Candidates To Be La Liga’s Next Big Star With No Messi
Top 10 Most Dangerous Sports Worldwide
During Lockdown, Vietnam’s Gen Z Travels via TikTok
A common breakfast dish on Phu Quoc Island
Silky ‘pig skin cake’ wins international recognition
Raw fish fermented with maize powder: A mouthwatering dish in Vinh Phuc Province
Ho Chi Minh City Goes Global: A city of clean energy and green in the 21st century
Wild beauty on top of Eo Chim Pass
Con Dao Airport to be expanded to serve 2 mln passengers per year
Top 10 Most Popular Salads in the World Can Be Made at Home
Top 10 Most Famous Sports In The World
Historical sites in Hanoi – Past and present
Vietnam deploys forces to deal with Covid-19 outbreaks in HCM City