Football · 2002 · South Korea
South Korea's Run to the Semi-Finals
Co-hosting the World Cup, South Korea knock out Italy and then Spain, and become the first Asian nation to reach a semi-final.
Semi-final (4th place)
Furthest stage reached
Italy (GG), Spain (pens)
Knockout wins
Guus Hiddink
Coach
Guus Hiddink's South Korea, co-hosting the 2002 World Cup with Japan, topped a group containing Portugal and met Italy in the last sixteen at Daejeon. A goal down with two minutes of normal time left, Seol Ki-hyeon equalised, and Ahn Jung-hwan, who had missed a penalty earlier in the match, headed the golden-goal winner in extra time.
The quarter-final against Spain in Gwangju finished goalless after 120 minutes and went to penalties, which South Korea won 5-3. The home support, organised nationwide under the name the Red Devils, turned the country red for a fortnight. No Asian team in World Cup history had reached the last four before.
Germany ended the run 1-0 in the semi-final in Seoul, and South Korea lost the third-place match to Turkey. By then millions had spent a month watching on giant screens in city squares, and the country's relationship with football had changed for good. No Asian nation has gone further at a men's World Cup since.
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