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Korean fans gather for final party Posted: Saturday June 29, 2002 5:44 AMUpdated: Saturday June 29, 2002 3:02 PM
SEOUL (Reuters) -- South Korea's capital shuddered with thunder-like fireworks on Saturday as fans ignored their national team's defeat to Turkey in a battle for third-place and celebrated the end of their remarkable World Cup adventure. In a true Saturday night fever, a crowd of almost two million fans turned into a sea of radiant neon sticks and flapping flags as they danced to the national anthem in Seoul after Turkey won 3-2 to secure the bronze medal position in the tournament. "Our players fought very well but lady luck seemed not to be on our side today because she was jealous of us," said Yoo Jae-woong, a 24-year-old baseball player. The country's last day of co-hosting the finals was also marked by a naval clash with neighbouring North Korea, with whom the South is still technically at war. South Korea's miraculous progress to the semi-finals had sparked huge street parties around the country, with some 25 million people -- about half the country's 48 million population -- having choked the country's streets in the past weeks. "I hope such passionate feelings for soccer continue even after the World Cup," said 20-year-old Lee si-young. No Asian team had reached the last four at the World Cup in the 72-year history of the tournament and South Korea had not won a single game in their five previous appearances. "I'm happy because our brother country won the game," said housewife Kim Young-sook, referring to Turkey's military brigades which fought on the South's side against the communist North during the 1950-53 Korean War. Brazil play Germany in the World Cup final on Sunday in the Japanese city of Yokohama as the focus switches to the co-hosts. Earlier in the day, two patrol ships from communist North Korea crossed the border line and clashed with South Korean navy vessels, killing four South Korean sailors. "At first I was very shocked by the news but I didn't think the incident would have any influence on the World Cup," said Lee Sung-kwang, 26. South Korea's defence ministry said one South Korean vessel sank in the clash in the Yellow Sea about 170 km (105 miles) west of Inchon International Airport, through which tens of thousands of foreign soccer fans entered the country this month.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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