Soccer: Ecuadoreans dance and celebrate despite exit

QUITO - Thousands of Ecuadoreans danced on the streets today to celebrate a World Cup soccer campaign which they said had put the South American country on the map.

Ecuador bowed out of the competition in Germany today when they lost 0-1 to England in the second round.

But joyful fans focused on the "historic performance" in reaching the last 16 for the first time.

"I'm sad, but at the same time I'm glad we made England suffer," said Janeth Muela, a 34-year-old nurse waving an Ecuadorean flag with her two teenage children on the street.

"Now the world knows who we are."

Thousands of fans left home early today to watch the game on giant television screens placed in parks, street corners and restaurants.

More fans clad in the team's yellow jersey poured into the streets after the match, dancing and hugging each other while shouting "we did it" and "the next cup is ours".

Drivers cruised around the capital Quito, honking incessantly and waving yellow, blue and red national flags out of their windows.

Many fans said they were happy with their team's good performance against England and plan to give their team's players a hero's welcome next week.

Shortly after the match, Ecuadorean television channels ran images of the team's players, flashing the words "thanks" and "mission accomplished" on the background.

"Our team's participation in the Cup has been historic ... is an example for all Ecuadoreans," the president's spokesman, Enrique Proano, said.

- REUTERS