South Korea,pride of Asian Soccer

That's the end of the most heroic run in the World Cup history. Michael Ballack's lone goal in Tuesday's semifinal sent a struggling German side into the championship clash with either Brazil or Turkey. For co-hosts South Korea, history has already been made and the legacy will last forever.

South Korea are the first Asian team to make it to the World Cup semifinals, going further than a Democratic People's Republic of Korea team, who upset Italy 1-0 to reach the 1966 quarter-finals before falling 5-3 to Portugal.

South Korea, who had never won a match in five previous trips to soccer's premiere event, were undefeated in its group with wins over Poland and world No. 5 Portugal and a draw with the United States.

They kept their giant-killing run in knock-out stages, edging Italy 2-1 in the second round and beating Spain 5-3 in a penalty shoot-out after a goalless 120 minutes in the quarter-finals.

South Korea had a clear and practical objective as they prepared for the World Cup on home pitch - reach the round of 16.

Before the tournament, that modest goal seemed elusive for the South Koreans. Despite being an Asian soccer power, South Korea had registered 10 losses and only four draws in its five previous visits to the finals.

South Korea have made tremendous progress since December 2000, when Guus Hiddink took over.

The Dutch coach has raised the level of the team through tough warm-up matches against top sides such as Croatia and England.

For most of 2001, the results were unimpressive, but this year, South Korea have begun to shine, helped by months of club-like daily practice as South Korean club teams released players for World Cup preparations.

In Tuesday's semifinal, South Korea matched the 1954, 1974 and 1990 world champions throughout a thrilling end to end game.

If there was not for Oliver Kahn, arguably the best goalkeeper in the world, South Korea may have scored an early goal.

Kahn, Germany's savior in the quarter-final win over the United States, made a superb diving safe from Lee Chun-soo's angled shot in the eighth minute.

Forget Saudi Arabia and China, who combined to allow 21 goals to place in the bottom two out of 32 World Cup finalists. South Korea and Japan, who made it to the round of 16 in their only second World Cup appearance, are the proud representatives of Asian soccer.

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