Soccer fans in Japan burst into celebration after their team advanced to the World Cup knockout round despite a 1-0 loss to Poland, exchanging high-fives and hugs in relief that they had squeezed through. In Tokyo’s trendy Shibuya, elated supporters streamed out of sports bars after the
Soccer fans in Japan burst into celebration after their team advanced to the World Cup knockout round despite a 1-0 loss to Poland, exchanging high-fives and hugs in relief that they had squeezed through.
In Tokyo’s trendy Shibuya, elated supporters streamed out of sports bars after the final whistle at around 1 a.m. local time, the sound of horns and “Nippon” chants filling the streets as they converged upon the district’s iconic pedestrian scramble.
“I’m so relieved. I knew it was going to be a tough game,” said 20-year-old student Kousuke Takahashi, adding that the loss didn’t take any shine off their overall World Cup performance.
“I never thought we’d make it out of the group stage so I’m happy with the result.”
Before the tournament Japan had been given little chance of surviving the group stage but a shock win over Colombia and a draw with Senegal put them on track for their third trip to the World Cup’s last 16.
