Japanese soccer fans roared in frustration Friday morning after the national team ended its crucial match with Greece with an underwhelming 0-0 draw, making its advance to the second stage of the World Cup highly unlikely, though not impossible.
A crowd of 200 avid Samurai Blue supporters, mostly office workers, gathered at a public viewing space set up in the Marunouchi Building near Tokyo Station before reporting for work, and another 150 fans in suits massed outside to watch through the windows, while a bar inside was packed to capacity with 180 customers.
"I think Greece did a fantastic job in keeping its defense strong," said a crestfallen Hiroyuki Miyamoto, 25, as he reflected on what was supposed to be a much-anticipated victory.