Japan supporters react as team crashes out of World Cup on penalties

Record ID: 1701138

  • Title: Japan supporters react as team crashes out of World Cup on penalties
  • Date: 5th December 2022
  • Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (DECEMBER 6, 2022) (REUTERS) JAPAN SUPPORTERS GROAN WHILE WATCHING JAPAN VS CROATIA WOMAN WITH HER FACE IN HER HANDS MAN WATCHING THE GAME WITH MOUTH OPEN (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) 35 YEAR-OLD ENGINEER, RYOSUKE KABE, SAYING: “It was so fun to watch from start to finish, and it really left an impression on me. Every single player put everything they had on the line. It was moving to watch them all fight with everything they had.” VARIOUS OF JAPAN FANS REACTING AS CROATIA SCORE DECIDING PENALTY JAPAN SUPPORTER DRINKING JAPAN SUPPORTER RUNNING HANDS THROUGH HIS HAIR SOUNDBITE (Japanese) 21 YEAR-OLD STUDENT, SHUN HASEGAWA, SAYING: “I have no word for it other than disappointment. Because the match was decided by a penalty kick, it was a 50-50 chance for Japan to win or lose. I think penalty kicks are a bit like a random draw. It’s not like I’m in a position to comment on the results, but it’s just so frustrating to think that there was a 50% chance that Japan could have won.” TOKYO, JAPAN (DECEMBER 6, 2022) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) JAPAN SUPPORTERS STANDING IN THE RAIN BY SHIBUYA SCRAMBLE CROSSING JAPAN SUPPORTERS WEARING HEADBANDS MEN WITH UMBRELLAS CROSSING SHIBUYA CROSSING AND SAYING (Japanese) "We lost" JAPAN SUPPORTERS MAKING PEACE SIGN AND THUMBS UP TO THE CAMERA SOUNDBITE (Japanese) STUDENT, HYUGA KIKUCHI, SAYING: "As soon as it went to penalties I was just praying, praying that we'd win, but what can you do? I think it was a matter of luck, too. I really think the team did their very best, and I took a lot of courage from that." PEOPLE WITH UMBREALLAS WALKING ACROSS SHIBUYA CROSSING POLICE STANDING IN A LINE VARIOUS OF POLICE OFFICER HOLDING A RED BATON AT THE CROSSING
  • Embargoed: 19th December 2022 21:12
  • Keywords: Croatia Japan Qatar Tokyo World Cup bar fans football match soccer sports bar
  • Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
  • City: TOKYO, JAPAN
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Soccer,Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVA001440505122022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Japan fans mourned what could have been in Tokyo early on Tuesday morning (December 6, evening of December 5 GMT) after their side fell to former World Cup runners-up Croatia, losing 3-1 on penalties.
    Supporters of the Samurai Blue held their faces in their hands as they watched the defeat play out at a bar in Tokyo's Shibuya.
    "I have no word for it other than disappointment. Because the match was decided by a penalty kick, it was a 50-50 chance for Japan to win or lose. I think penalty kicks are a bit like a random draw. It’s not like I’m in a position to comment on the results, but it’s just so frustrating to think that there was a 50% chance that Japan could have won," 21 year-old student Shun Hasegawa said.
    The famous Shibuya Scramble crossing, scene of riotous celebrations following Japan's shock wins over Germany and Spain in the group stage was quiet, with police seemingly outnumbering fans willing to brave the rain and wintry temperatures.
    "As soon as it went to penalties I was just praying, praying that we'd win, but what can you do? I think it was a matter of luck, too. I really think the team did their very best, and I took a lot of courage from that," student Hyuga Kikuchi said.
    Japan's men's team was hoping to reach the Quarter-Finals of the World Cup for the first time in its history, but was denied by Croatia's second half equaliser and subsequent victory in the penalty shoot-out.
    (Production: Tom Bateman and Sakura Murakami)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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