Football · 2002 · South Korea
South Korea's Run to the Semi-Finals
Co-hosting the World Cup, South Korea beats Italy and Spain in successive knockout rounds to become the first Asian nation to reach a World Cup semi-final.
Semi-final (4th place)
Furthest stage reached
Italy (GG), Spain (pens)
Knockout wins
Guus Hiddink
Coach
South Korea, coached by Dutchman Guus Hiddink and co-hosting the 2002 World Cup with Japan, topped a group containing Portugal before facing Italy in the last sixteen in Daejeon. Trailing 1-0 with two minutes of normal time left, Seol Ki-hyeon equalised, and Ahn Jung-hwan, who had earlier missed a penalty, headed the golden-goal winner in extra time.
The quarter-final against Spain in Gwangju finished goalless after 120 minutes, decided on penalties that South Korea won 5-3, sending an ocean of red-shirted home supporters, organised nationwide as the 'Red Devils', into scenes of celebration replayed for years afterward. It made South Korea the first Asian team in World Cup history to reach the last four.
Germany ended the run 1-0 in the semi-final in Seoul, and South Korea lost the third-place match to Turkey, but the tournament transformed the country's relationship with football, filled city squares with millions of fans watching on giant screens, and remains the benchmark achievement for any Asian nation at a men's World Cup.
Watch the Moment
