The hero treatment

South Korea to honor Red Devils with ticker-tape parade

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SEOUL, South Korea (Reuters) -- South Korea's soccer squad, the biggest surprise at a World Cup full of them, will get a ticker-tape parade through central Seoul on Tuesday as devoted "Red Devil" fans salute Asia's best team.

Police will escort the team to Kwanghwamoon, the broad thoroughfare where a sea of fans in red jerseys gathered to watch every South Korean match on large outdoor screens, capturing the world's imagination with their euphoric support.

Under Dutch coach Guus Hiddink, South Korea produced fast, physical football that galvanised the nation and sent millions of fans into the streets to revel in football's biggest festival.

Hiddink, revered for turning around the team's fortunes in his 18 months as coach, is due to receive honorary citizenship.

The festivities will also include fireworks and performances by top South Korean singers, such as pop band g.o.d. and opera singer Jo Sumi.

A huge poster of Hiddink and the team on a building overlooking the parade route read: "We will always remember you"

The co-hosts' dream run came within one game of the final after wins over Poland, Portugal, Italy and Spain.

They were stunning victories for a squad that entered the tournament ranked 40th in the world and was winless in five previous finals dating back to 1954.

South Korea, which had feared they would be the first hosts not to make it beyond the first round, instead took fourth place to mark the most successful showing by an Asian side in the tournament's 72-year history.

Fellow hosts Japan also topped expectations by reaching the final 16 in just their second World Cup, while underdogs Senegal and Turkey beat traditional powers from Europe and Latin America.

South Koreans, after a frenzied yet peaceful month of football, were awarded a national holiday on Monday to recover.

Swaying fans filled stadiums, streets, bars and offices with rousing choruses of "Oh Pilsung Korea" (Victory Korea) and "Dae-han Min-kuk" ("Republic of Korea") during the finals.

Police estimate almost 22 million people took to the streets in South Korea during the tournament, which ended on Sunday with Brazil winning a record fifth title in a 2-0 win over Germany held in Yokohama, Japan.

 

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