Arab News Japan

TOKYO: In the lively district of Shibuya, the hub for football fans, sadness and shock prevailed as Japan’s national football team lost against the Croatian team and was eliminated from the FIFA World Cup.

In front of the large signs of FIFA hung on the walls with giant photos of famous international footballers, a couple of young girls said they were very shocked and sad about the result, while others regretted that the match ended in a penalty shootout.

Some fans said their favorite player, Kaoru Mitoma, deserved a better result, while a Japanese fan said KUBO Takefusa should have been selected to play in the game against Croatia, and he couldn’t understand why such an important player was sitting on the sidelines.

As their hopes dashed, fans consoled themselves in nearby sportswear shops while looking at photos of Japanese National Team players expected to return home soon.