Loyal fans follow the team

Ireland's soccer supporters are continuing to follow the Irish team to Korea.

Neither exorbitant travelling costs nor difficulties in obtaining tickets, not even rumours of impending earthquakes and typhoons - not to mention possible disasters of a footballing nature - can deter them from jetting off to South Korea for Sunday's clash with Spain.

Up to 250 people are travelling to Suwon under package tours costing between €2,100 and €2,900.

At least another 500 are travelling out on their own bat, according to travel agents, while about 1,000 fans who went to Japan under package tours for Ireland's group games have chosen to stay in the region to continue following the team.