What amount of responsibility do spectators have to clean up after themselves? It’s something anyone who attends a sporting event, movie or concert must ask themselves: Do I dispose of my trash after the show is over or leave it for others to pick up?
I’d rather not guess what percentage of people leave their trash at their seats — I’d wager it’s quite high, based on what I’ve personally witnessed in the U.S. What I can say is that fans of Japan’s men’s and women’s national teams are certainly not ones to leave trash to others.
Japan supporters once again proved they are the nicest soccer fans in the world on Friday. After fans of Japan stayed to clean up trash following men’s World Cup matches in Russia last year, they’re doing it again this year at the Women’s World Cup.
Following Japan’s 2-1 defeat of Scotland, fans of the Asian champions stuck around at Roazhon Park in Rennes, France, to clean up trash left behind by other spectators.
#WWCTelemundo: ¡Una vez más, #JPN da clases de urbanidad!
Luego del partido contra #SCO, los aficionados nipones ayudaron a limpiar el estadio.¿Y si les copiamos? pic.twitter.com/qnTlN7cYDo
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 14, 2019
Classy stuff from the fans, who were not content to just pick up their own trash, but that of others as well.
As for the action on the pitch, Japan controlled most of the match against Scotland, taking a 2-0 lead before halftime.
Mana Iwabuchi scored on a rifling shot from the top of the 18 to open the scoring in the 23rd minute.
#WWCTelemundo ¡Llegó el primer gol nipón en esta Copa Mundial !
Golazo de #JPN de pierna derecha por parte de Mana Iwabuchi, no lo pensó dos veces y lo envía al fondo de la red de #SCO pic.twitter.com/Uai2RA37IN— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 14, 2019
Yuika Sugasawa then made it 2-0 with a penalty kick in the 37th minute.
#WWCTelemundo ¡Sin pensarlo dos veces la silbante marca penal!
Sugasawa aumenta la ventaja para #JPN convirtiendo desde los once pasos y envía el balón a la derecha de la meta de #SCO pic.twitter.com/gFPwNMCTPf— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 14, 2019
Scotland, as it did in a 2-1 loss to England on Sunday, pulled one back, but couldn’t complete the comeback despite their awesome uniforms. Lana Clelland capitalized on a shocking Japanese mistake with a blistering golazo in the 88th minute.
#WWCTelemundo ¡Golazo de #SCO!
Tremenda pincelada de Lana Clelland quien llevaba pocos minutos en la cancha, aprovechó un descuido defensivo de #JPN y desde la frontal batió por alto a las redes de #JPN pic.twitter.com/fecPWn6svH— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 14, 2019
Defeat for Scotland leaves it in last place in Group D heading into the final round of group-stage matches. The Scots still have a chance to advance as a third-place team with a win over Argentina on Wednesday.