[Anchor]

Today (June 25), even more fans gathered at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul than during the first and second matches. However, after a lackluster performance that ended the team's chances of advancing to the Round of 32 on their own merit, the fans' passionate cheers turned into deep disappointment.

Reporter Kim Gyu-ri has the story.

[Reporter]

Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul was painted red once again from early this morning.

[Baek Chang-ha / Seo-gu, Daegu: I came all the way from Daegu early this morning. I truly believe we can win against South Africa. Go Korea!]

From office workers who took annual leave to a family of Korean-Americans visiting Korea for the first time in a while, everyone joined in the street cheering.

[Lee In-ae, So Ja-yu, So Ja-yeon, So Woo-ju, So Jae-ui: We happened to be visiting Korea this summer, and since there was the cheering event at Gwanghwamun, we decided to come out together, all dressed in red.]

With the final group stage match determining whether the team would advance to the Round of 32 on their own, an estimated 22,000 people—more than the first and second matches—gathered at the square, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

Gwanghwamun Square was already packed, and with the road in front of the square completely blocked off, the area transformed into a cheering section for the Red Devils.

As the match began, the Red Devils cheered for the national team with one voice, keeping time with the sound of drums.

When Lee Kang-in's shot narrowly missed early in the first half, sighs of regret erupted, while goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu's consecutive saves drew cheers.

The heat of the cheering, which continued into the second half, instantly froze when South Africa scored the opening goal.

Fans everywhere held their heads in their hands, unable to hide their frustration. When the match ended without an equalizer despite their desperate wishes, they could not conceal their disappointment.

[Oh Jun-ho, Lee Seung-ah, Oh Jun-seo, Lee Seung-min: We really thought we would beat South Africa, but we lost. It was frustrating and upsetting because we almost scored a goal at the end but couldn't.]

Sharp criticism regarding the lackluster performance also poured out.

[Park Sang-min, Lee Jong-min / Jinju, Gyeongnam: The coach's tactics are always the same...]

[Kim Jung-ah, Kim Tae-kyung, Shin So-jung / Hwaseong, Gyeonggi: (Say a word to the coach.) I hope he coordinates well with the players and doesn't be stubborn. I hope for more harmony.]

Citizens who had shouted "Korea" at the top of their lungs for nearly 100 minutes until the final whistle had to leave the square with nothing but regret.

(Reported by Joo Yong-jin | Video edited by Choi Hye-young | VJ: Noh Jae-min)