Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterSouth Koreas run to the 2002 World Cup semi-finals remains one of the most remarkable major tournament performances in recent history.Under Dutch coach Guus Hiddink, the co-hosts defied expectations to become the first Asian nation to reach the last four of a World Cup.Two European heavyweights were dispatched along the way, with the victories over Italy and Spain both among the most controversial results the competition has ever produced.Guus Hiddink on how South Korea shocked the worldProgression from a group containing Portugal, Poland and the United States was already an expectation-exceeding run by the Taeguk Warriors, but Hiddinks side were only just getting started.We won the group to reach the last 16, then eliminating Italy and Spain was sensational, Hiddink recalls to FourFourTwo. There was some controversy with the referees in those games lets just say sometimes things go your way, sometimes they dont. You may like The greatest World Cup upsets... ever! Ranked! The 15 greatest World Cup goals youve probably forgotten Roy Keane was the one player every country at the World Cup would have picked from our squad, so I do wonder what we could have achieved had he stayed in 2002 Matt Holland opens up on Irelands Saipan bust-up I never heard my Spanish friends complain about the role of the referee afterwards.The manner of Italys exit was different though, as tempers boiled over following Francesco Tottis second yellow card for simulation, plus a disallowed Damiano Tommasi golden goal.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.It was different with my Italian friends they were absolutely furious about a second yellow card Francesco Totti got for a dive, and the disallowed golden goal by Damiano Tommasi, the Dutchman continues.Afterwards, they trashed the entire dressing room. Chairs flew through the air. I stood ata distance, arms crossed, watching. The Italians really needed to blow off steam. They forgot that Totti should have had a red card for an elbow earlier on. What to read next Javier Zanetti clarifies intent behind Argentina's bus window celebrations at France 98 World Cup day four highlights: Underestimate Germany at your peril, dark horse emerges, late drama and Graham Potter's redemption story David Beckhams red card at France 98 was excessive. He shouldnt have been sent off, but Diego Simeone was clever Javier Zanettis World Cup 98 admission It was striker Ahn Jung-hwan who struck to send the Italians crashing out, with Hiddink recalling his advice to the forward prior to the tournament.Ahn Jung-hwan scored the golden goal for us at the time, he was playing at Perugia, in Italy of all places. Hed missed a penalty early in that game, but he still became the celebrated man.By South Korean standards, Ahn was quite a figure. When we first saw him, he arrived in fashionable clothing, his hair neatly done. He already had the mannerisms of an Italian, but he was lacking physically. I told him: Get your physique in order, then you can return to the squad. He took that advice very seriously.Ahn is still something of a showman he appears frequently on TV in South Korea nowadays.TOPICSSouth KoreaWorld CupJoe MewisSocial Links NavigationFor more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.With contributions fromGuus Hetterscheid
