SEOUL, June 18: Hundreds of thousands of ecstatic South Koreans roared and danced with uncontained joy in the heart of their capital on Tuesday after their team stunned Italy.

Multi-coloured fireworks erupted from office blocks in the centre of Seoul where police estimated some 1.1 million fans — almost all clad in team-colour red T-shirts — had gathered to watch the second-round match on giant television screens.

Deliriously they yelled team chants as pop music thudded across the city — scenes that were repeated in Taejon stadium and all across the country of 48 million people.

Cars honked their horns with abandon and passengers waved South Korean flags out the windows as Seoul prepared to party until the early hours.

Police estimated four million people — more than the population of second-round losers Ireland — were on the streets across the country. In Seoul, there were 1.1 million people between city hall and the city’s main Kwanghwamoon junction.

Newspapers were as buoyant as the fans about reaching the quarterfinals, matching rival North Korea’s 1966 feat of making the last eight after knocking out Italy.

“This is a miracle,” declared the website of the Chosun Ilbo, a leading Seoul daily. “Not satisfied with Korea’s first ever advance to the final 16, our 23 players created a drama for the fans who supported them with burning passion.”

The infectious delight quickly spread to foreign visitors.

From dawn, red-clad supporters had gathered in central Seoul to stake out their spot in front of giant television screens. Some were already banging drums before most workers had had their first cup of coffee.

By early evening, after a blistering day, hundreds of thousands of “Red Devils” fans were in place, chanting and listening to music at Seoul’s main Kwanghwamoon intersection.

Although there were twinges of regret that co-hosts Japan failed to advance after a 1-0 loss to Turkey, news of the Japanese setback mostly just fuelled the chants of the Seoul crowds.—Reuters