Japan "may have been crushed" by its "last-gasp loss to Belgium" that ended its dream of reaching its first-ever World Cup quarterfinal, but the Samurai Blue and its fans "have certainly won plaudits around the world on social media," according to KYODO. At a World Cup where "play-acting and gamesmanship" by players including Neymar "have been in the spotlight," Japan and Belgium "won applause for letting their football do the talking." The official FIFA World Cup Twitter account attached a photo of "dejected-looking" Japanese midfielder Takashi Inui to its tweet, saying, "Thank you for contributing so much to a World Cup classic and for everything you've added to Russia 2018, Japan" (KYODO, 7/3). In London, Jack Bezants reported after the last-minute loss to Belgium, Japan's World Cup squad and its thousands of fans "would have been forgiven for leaving the Rostov Arena as swiftly as possible." But, as revealed by FIFA General Coordinator Priscilla Janssens on Twitter, Japan's squad "went to extra lengths to thank their hosts in Russia as they bowed out." Japan's fans "were also pictured collecting rubbish from the stands moments after watching their side crash out in the most dramatic of circumstances." Japan's traveling supporters in Russia "have been seen staying behind after each of their matches to help stadium workers to clear away litter" (DAILY MAIL, 7/3).
