Bleary-eyed South Koreans celebrate World Cup last 16 spot
Nam You-Sun
Bleary-eyed South Korean fans erupted with joy early Wednesday as
their team won through to the second round of the World Cup for only the
second time in eight attempts.
Undeterred by the 3.30 am (1830 GMT Tuesday) kick-off, an army of
red-shirted supporters packed venues nationwide to watch the Red Devils
draw 2-2 with Nigeria in their final Group B match.
Police said 500,000 fans nationwide, more than half of them in Seoul,
watched the game in public on giant TV screens, with countless others
tuning in at home.
Fans, many wearing red plastic horns, packed City Hall plaza in
central Seoul and surrounding streets.
Some wore business suits or school uniforms so they could go straight
to work or school afterwards, and the cheering for the national team
began even before the game.
Fans held placards reading "You will lose" in Korean script, a phrase
which sounds similar to "Nigeria" in Korean.
They fell silent after Nigeria's first goal. But when Lee Jung-Soo
responded, ecstatic fans jumped up and down and hugged. Others let off
fireworks on the road.
The optimistic crowd cheered and sang at half-time, their confidence
boosted in the second half when Park Chu-Young scored from a free kick
to put the Koreans ahead.
Even when Yakubu Ayegbeni converted a penalty with 20 minutes to
play, the fans stayed hopeful.
A huge cheer went up when the giant screen at City Hall plaza showed
Argentina scoring against Greece in the other Group B game - ensuring
Korea's own path to the next round for the first time away from home.
With the Argentina-Greece game winding up just before South
Korea-Nigeria, the crowd began hugging each other and singing even
before added time had been played out.
Fans put their arms around each other and danced before trailing away
sluggishly but cheerfully to sleep, work or study.
"It's a sensational moment. I'm so overwhelmed," said university
student Jung Sae-Han, 20. "I am so proud of them and of 50 million
Koreans." Woo Da-Un, 27, said she was happy Park scored his first goal
of the tournament. "We've achieved the round of 16. I hope we go to the
round of eight and even the semi finals."
South Korea's first World Cup was in 1954 and the second in 1986,
since when they have qualified for every tournament.
But they have only once before made it to the round of 16, in 2002,
when the country co-hosted the event with Japan. The South went on to
reach the semi-finals.
South Korea will face Uruguay for a quarter-final spot. President Lee
Myung-Bak sent a congratulatory message to the team in South Africa.
"We are so proud of you," he told them. "I rejoice with the people
and congratulate you on advancing into the round of 16 for the first
time at an away World Cup."
In addition to the thanks of a grateful nation, the squad can expect
substantial prize money. The Korea Football Association earlier
announced that each player will receive up to 170 million won (143,000
dollars) for reaching the round of 16.
Players will be divided into four groups according to their
contribution to the achievement, with the top-rated players pocketing
170 million. Coach Huh Jung-moo has already secured 300 million won in
prize money in return for the advance to the knockout round. SEOUL,
Wednesday, AFP
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