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Koreans in party mood for Portugal Posted: Friday June 14, 2002 5:32 AMINCHEON, South Korea (AP) -- Outside the Munhak stadium, it seemed like the day of the World Cup final. Eight hours before kickoff of Friday evening's decisive first-round game between South Korea and Portugal, hundreds of red-clad fans were already streaming toward the venue. By late afternoon, tens of thousands of fans were gathered beneath the burning sun, starting chants that quickly rippled through the crowd, picked up by children as young as five and six who grasped their parents' hands and giggled. It was only a first-round game, but the fans came in hope of seeing their team make history by advancing to the last 16 for the first time, despite participating in five previous World Cups. South Korea needed a win or a draw to go through. Portugal had to win. In addition to 50,000 mostly local fans expected inside the stadium, more than 100,000 people were expected in this port city west of Seoul to watch the game on giant television screens that were set up for the occasion. Elsewhere in the country, millions more were to watch at home or on giant TV screens set up in plazas. About a half-million people were expected on the streets of Seoul. In Incheon, young people sat in the shade painting South Korea's national colors on each other's faces, or stood patiently in queues waiting to buy scarves and flags fluttering in the sea breeze at makeshift stalls. More than 3,000 police were on hand but there was no sign of trouble. Officers stood guard along sidewalks or sat cross-legged in ranks beneath trees, their riot shields and helmets neatly stacked.
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