When Japan took a shock 2-0 lead by scoring a brace of goals in quick succession in their World Cup last 16 game in Rostov Arena, the internet exploded into a frenzy of anime memes in support of ‘Samurai Blue’.
READ MORE: Brazil 2-0 Mexico: Neymar plays hero & villain in last 16 victory over El Tri
Goals from Genki Haraguchi on 48 minutes from a tight angle and then a second from long-range by Takashi Inui four minutes later gave Japan a surprise lead against the Belgian Red Devils.
Japan 2-0 up against Belgium. Incredible pic.twitter.com/jGGFNCHXtP
— FootballFunnys (@FootballFunnnys) July 2, 2018
#SAMURAIBLUE pic.twitter.com/G5XTMVbgeM
— TVアニメ『ぐらんぶる』公式 (@gb_anime) July 2, 2018
追加点だぁぁぁ！！！#キャプテン翼 #ワールドカップ #WorldCup #W杯 #SAMURAIBLUE pic.twitter.com/Hd3bhqiOJJ
— キャプテン翼ポータル公式@TVアニメ放送中！ (@tsubasa_news) July 2, 2018
It might actually happen. We've spent our whole childhood wondering what will happen when Japan finally meets Brazil in the World Cup in the Tsubasa anime.The time has come. pic.twitter.com/JDANoMenJ7
— Seleção Brasileira (@BrazilStat) July 2, 2018
Japan getting the anime power now pic.twitter.com/zWxyG9E3vB
— imtired92 (@imnoob92) July 2, 2018
#SAMURAIBLUE pic.twitter.com/U7zXBFLyEa
— TVアニメ『ぐらんぶる』公式 (@gb_anime) July 2, 2018
#WorldCup #JAP 😱 pic.twitter.com/oXps1yFUVI
— Miquel Pellicer🎗 (@mik1977) July 2, 2018
後半キックオフ！#キャプテン翼 #ワールドカップ #WorldCup #W杯 #SAMURAIBLUE pic.twitter.com/Q781x24xah
— キャプテン翼ポータル公式@TVアニメ放送中！ (@tsubasa_news) July 2, 2018
Anime is a brand of hand-drawn computer animation originating in the country and has been used to bring to life series and movies centered on soccer, including 'The Knight in the Area' and 'Captain Tsubasa'.