Japan were praised for their class and dignity in defeat after leaving their dressing room spotless in the wake of their defeat to Qatar in the Asian Cup final on Friday.

The four-time Asian Cup winners also left the words 'thank you' on a white board in English, Arabic and Japanese at the Zayed Sports City stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Japan gained immense popularity at last summer's World Cup when they took the time to clean their changing room after a gut-wrenching last-16 exit to Belgium when they blew a two-goal lead.

Japan's fans in Russia took care to pick up litter around them at stadiums and tidy up public spaces, inspiring Peru, Colombia and Senegal fans to do the same.

Their bright and progressive passing football impressed at the World Cup, but despite being well fancied for the Asian Cup Japan were left stunned by two first-half Qatar goals and never recovered.