Japan's last-gasp loss to Belgium on Monday in the World Cup round of 16 left people around the country at a loss for words.

After Belgium came from two goals down to win 3-2 in injury time, there were no high-fives at the famous scramble crossing in Tokyo's Shibuya entertainment district, unlike when Japan beat Colombia in their opening match two weeks ago.

People walked toward the station to take the first trains of the day, looking tired and dejected.

"A quarterfinal berth was in sight...," said Shintaro Chiba, a 20-year-old college student who was watching the game in Shibuya with a friend. "But we played good games throughout the tournament. I'm sure we'll advance further in the next World Cup."

Although the match began at 3 a.m. Tuesday Japan time, many went out to watch it at restaurants and bars, with some wearing business attire and carrying briefcases in order to go straight to work after the game ended.

The celebrations were beginning as Japan scored two goals early in the second half. But as Belgium made it 2-1 and then 2-2, people began to groan and put their heads in their hands.

On the other hand, about 100 people gathered at the Belgian Embassy in Tokyo to watch the game. Dewancker Pomhi Andre, who goes to Keio University, called the match a historic one.

The television viewer rating reached as high as 42.6 percent in the Kanto region centered on Tokyo and 37.5 percent in Kansai centered on Osaka, at the time when Belgium scored the winner.

Many fans gathered on the streets in Osaka as well.

"Before the tournament, we didn't expect Japan to advance past the group stage, so they did well," said Megumi Tao, who watched the game at a sports bar. She added that she wants to thank the players for a great team effort when they return home.

"It's a disappointing loss, but I want to tell the players that they tried really hard," her friend Taeko Takayama said. "I want coach (Akira) Nishino to stay on."

Nishino took over from Vahid Halilhodzic two months before the World Cup, and most people said it would be difficult for Japan to reach the 16-team knockout stage after the team lost three matches in a row in the run-up to the tournament-- to Ukraine, Ghana and Switzerland.

As dawn broke in Osaka, some men wearing just their underwear jumped off a bridge into a river, urged on by people around them. Japan's World Cup was over.