當日本國家隊的飛機在成田機場降落時，沮喪的他們收到了成百上千球迷的歡迎。約700名球迷，大都穿著國家隊的隊服，給於這些失意的藍軍武士們以英雄般的禮遇。儘管有球迷歡呼尖叫，閃光燈不停閃爍，國家隊的隊員們全都表情嚴肅的離開了機場。國家隊在世界盃上未能贏得一場比賽，表現不佳。但是當地媒體還是對國家隊表示了感謝，也對他們在2010年世界盃的表現寄予了厚望。

　　《東京新聞》報道：“將這次的失敗作為再次成功的跳板。”

　　《朝日新聞》報道：“結果很遺憾，但是日本隊讓我們感到了高昂的士氣和真正的激情。我們希望表達對國家隊的感激。”

　　鏈結: http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=afp-fblwc2006jpnreturn&prov=afp&type=lgns

　　原文:Japan's Blue Samurai receive hero's welcome

　　AFP

　　June 24, 2006

　　TOKYO (AFP) - Hundreds of cheering fans have welcomed home Japan's football team when they arrived appearing despondent at Narita airport from Germany.

　　Some 700 supporters, many of them wearing the national teams' shirt, gave a hero's welcome to the Blue Samurai who were bundled out of the World Cup after failing to win any of their three games.

　　Despite camera flashes and loud cheers and cries of support from fans Saturday, the Asian champions were grim-faced as they left the airport east of Tokyo.

　　The team failed to secure a victory in Germany, losing to Australia, drawing with Croatia, and losing again to champions Brazil.

　　Before the World Cup began, Japanese everywhere were hoping and many expecting that the team would reach the second round of the tournament.

　　After the final match against Brazil on Thursday, the disappointing reality sank in, as media and the nation accepted the shortcomings of Japanese football while cheering the national team to look to the future.

　　"A huge gap of abilities," said an Asahi Shimbun editorial headline.

　　"How weak we were," the Mainichi Shimbun said in an editorial.

　　"Including the selection of a new coach, the Japan national team has no choice but to start from scratch," the Mainichi said.

　　"We knew that (beating Brazil) would be like asking an elementary school child to solve college entrance exams. But the huge difference of abilities was more than discouraging, as it was shameful," the Mainichi said.

　　Major media praised star midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata, Japan's most famous footballer and two-time Asian Footballer of the Year.

　　Though he has consistently shown strong leadership and uncompromising fighting spirit, Nakata was overwhelmed by frustrations and wept on the pitch after the match against Brazil, which ended Japan's campaign in Germany.

　　"After the game, Hidetoshi Nakata could not get up and shed tears. That told the story of this team, which struggled for the past four years and ended in frustration," the Nihon Keizai Shimbun said in an editorial.

　　But local press also thanked the national team and hoped for a bright future at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

　　"Make this setback a springboard to jump," the Tokyo Shimbun said.

　　"The outcome was regrettable, but the Japan team allowed us all to feel high emotions and real thrill. We want to express our gratitude to the national team," the Asahi said.

　　作者-北京第二外國語大學英語系王帥

責編：佟杉杉