Fairytale ... or daylight robbery

Helguera, in particular, was furious at the final whistle as his team-mates cried into the ground at the Gwangju Stadium and had to be pulled away by officials. He said: 'I'm satisfied because we have done our best. I am sad because we have left unjustly, we felt helpless. We knew it was going to be difficult because it appeared the officials would help our rivals, as happened with Italy. South Korea do not deserve to be in the semi-finals and it will be difficult for Germany if Korea have the same help as they had against us.'

Morientes added: 'I go away with a bad flavour in my mouth. It gives me much pain after the team have worked as it has done to have two decisions changed that affected the result. They were legal goals. We are all annoyed. A historical opportunity has been lost.'

And so has the opportunity to applaud South Korea's unbelievable journey to the edge of World Cup history, which seemed impossible 18 months ago when Hiddink became the first foreign coach to manage the most successful Asian nation.

Camacho, who may rue the decision to rest Raul and let Joaquin take a penalty just minutes after pulling up with cramp, has asked more questions of officialdom than he has of himself, in public at least. He may also reflect on missed chances.

Although Germany coach Rudi Voller will have noted the impressive performances of strikers Ahn, Seol Ki-Hyeon and captain Hong Myung-Bo, who scored the decisive spotkick after Lee Woon-Jae saved from Joaquin, it will be the Hiddink Factor he fears most.

Voller's ageing squad, even with the efficiency which Hiddink believes will be their key strength, will be severely tested by a young, athletic and physical team who spent three months preparing for this tournament.

Hiddink's masterplan for Korean football, which is likely to lead to a return to frontline European management after these Finals, has worked perfectly and yet beyond his wildest dreams. It is the second time in succession Hiddink has reached the last four of the World Cup, after guiding Holland to a semi-final berth, and defeat by Brazil, at France 98. He is now plotting to go one better and stun the world again after overseeing the dramatic metamorphosis of a team clearly unprepared to take on the world when he was appointed.

Hiddink said: 'With Holland I had players who were already playing in the top leagues and it was just a question of fine- tuning. Here I didn't exactly have to start from zero, but it was certainly from very low. I had to teach them the values and principles that are demanded for international football.

'When I first came I asked for the freedom to organise games against stronger teams. I knew they didn't like to play European teams. They had a false respect for them and felt inferior physically, mentally and technically, but by playing those teams we have learned to have respect but to get over that inferiority complex.

'To have reached this stage is a huge compliment to the players. This is a big, big game and I will be reminding them to battle again and we will go into it fighting like young dogs.'

And the incredible South Korea story has grown with the team, who are being treated like pop stars everywhere they go. The Korean government has resisted the temptation to announce a national holiday tomorrow. Instead, president Kim Dae-Jung may well decide to save June 30 - World Cup Final day - for any holiday if Korea progress, which would be a nightmare scenario for their Japanese hosts, not to mention Portugal, Italy, Spain and Germany.