World Cup 2018: 3 things we should learn from Japan and its fans

Football: Japan vs Belgium at World Cup — Hearts are what Japan won in the World Cup

#1 Sportsmanship

Belgium v Japan: Round of 16 - 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia — A big salute to these warriors!

A man should not be judged by how he is during his good times, but by how he faces the bad tides. And if Japan were to be deduced by that, they deserve to be treated with the utmost respect.

When Nacer Chadli sealed a stunning comeback win for Belgium with what was literally the last kick of the game, the whole nation of Japan was in heartbreak. But they held back their disappointment, congratulated their opponents, thanked the fans for the support and left the pitch with empty hands and a billion hearts.

Many of us find it difficult to even eat when we are facing tough times, but the Japan faithful cleaned up the stadium despite witnessing their team fall down in the final minute of the match.

Back in the dressing room, the Samurai Blues did the same. A tidy, neat room and a thank you note in Russian were what the officials found when they went to check the dressing room which was occupied by the Japan team. A truly heart melting site.

And don't forget all those small but beautiful things they did like singing Anime songs with the Senegal fans.

About the author

Dakir is a European and Indian football journalist at Sportskeeda with an overall experience of 10 years. Holding a Master’s degree in Journalism & Mass Communication, and currently pursuing Master’s in Sports Journalism from Sheffield Hallam University, he is a seasoned football journalist who has interviewed the likes of former Liverpool star John Arne Riise, covered the entire 2022-23 Indian Super League season of the Kerala Blasters, and has delivered a seminar at an international conference held by St. Albert's College, Ernakulam.

Thanks to his extensive academic background in journalism, Dakir understands the importance of accuracy and spends a significant amount of time researching the subject. In today’s data-driven world of football, where players are perceived as machines, he prides himself amplify the voices of the people that make football the beautiful game that it is.

He started following football in 2013, and more specifically, Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool, and admires Jurgen Klopp for his untouched charisma and unmatched legacy. A perpetual underdog supporter, he is a fan of under-fire Reds forward Darwin Nunez and can’t wait for him to show the world what he truly is. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s iconic “corner taken quickly” corner assist for Divock Origi in Liverpool’s 4-0 UCL semifinal win over Barcelona left a lasting impact on him.

When not writing, Dakir enjoys indulging in his guilty pleasure - watching mass commercial movies.

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Edited by Zeeshan Ali