The Japan national football team has been praised for its good sportsmanship after winning against Germany on match day 4 of the FIFA World Cup. In particular, the fans have been commended for their cleanliness and tidiness, as they left the stadium without any rubbish. This was in stark contrast to how things looked after Russia’s victory over Saudi Arabia last week – with litter strewn across the ground.
Cleanliness is next to godliness, as the saying goes. And what could be more symbolic of this value than clean stadiums after a football match? That’s why it was commendable that Japanese fans took it upon themselves to clean up their rubbish in the stadium after their historic win against Germany in Qatar 2022.
Not only did they clean up the stadium after the game, but they also won hearts all over social media with their kind gestures. This showed respect for one’s surroundings and a sense of responsibility – virtues highly prized in Japan.
This display of good citizenship was all the more impressive given that Japan had just won an exciting and hard-fought game against one of the tournament favorites. Yet even as they celebrated their victory on social media and among friends and family, many Japanese supporters were also tidying up any litter or waste left behind by other spectators. It was a touching sight that again demonstrated how much selfless commitment these fans have toward creating a positive image for their country overseas.
In a show of sportsmanship and respect for their opponents, Japan’s players were seen diligently cleaning up the locker room following their victory. Lining up their meals perfectly on tables! The changing room was left spotless, too, with folded-up towels and untouched water bottles. Even more impressively, the players had neatly folded towels and arranged their meals orderly.
It’s not often that you see a team celebrate victory by cleaning up after themselves, but this is exactly what happened after Japan’s shocking 2-1 win over reigning champions Germany. The Japanese players tidied up their changing room before leaving, setting a great example for other teams and fans worldwide.
The photos of Khalifa International Stadium hit Twitter soon after, and hashtags like # SaveThePlanet #Qatar2022 started trending as people were amazed at how well-behaved both sets of fans were.
