Japanese fans praised for World Cup clean-up

(India Today) - Japan fans celebrated their 2-1 victory over Germany in their first 2022 World Cup game by continuing a wonderful postgame tradition that has now been practiced at several major tournaments. 

After the 2-1 win, Japan fans remained in the stands at Khalifa International Stadium, not to celebrate the outcome, but to clean the garbage.

This isn't the first time Japanese fans have pitched in to help stadium workers. 

They've been seen doing similar good deeds at previous World Cups, setting a good example for others.

Germany took the lead in the first half thanks to Ilkay Guendogan's penalty, but Japan came back in the second half with goals from substitutes Ritsu Doan and Takuma Asano. 

It was Japan's first-ever victory over Germany, despite the fact that the teams had met twice in international friendlies prior to Wednesday's World Cup clash.

The defeat was Germany's third in a row in the opening match of a major championship, following losses to Mexico at the 2018 World Cup, when they were eliminated in the first round as champions – their earliest exit in more than 80 years – and to France at Euro 2020.