SEOUL, 24 June — Surely not even FIFA’s World Cup computer game could have produced the semifinal lineup that has emerged at the real thing as the last four defied expert opinion, odds and, in South Korea’s case, belief, to get through.

The South Koreans, previously without a win in 14 games over five tournaments, have somehow beaten Poland, Portugal, Italy and Spain to carry the flag for the co-hosts after Japan were knocked out in the second round at the hands of Turkey.

Asia’s first semifinalists are now on the verge of the most incredible story in the history of a tournament first organized by soccer’s world governing body in 1930 in Uruguay.

Turkey, in only their second World Cup and their first since 1954, recovered from a start that would have floored many teams but have continued to play eye-catching football and are in the last four on merit.

Germany are the most consistent team in World Cup history and have again proved themselves the ultimate tournament competitors despite the current group of players being written off as the worst to represent the country in years.

It seems ridiculous to describe Brazil’s appearance as a surprise but, following an appalling qualifying campaign, they too arrived outside the select group of favorites.

But with each game they have eased back to the top of the pile and now once again find themselves in the familiar role as the best choice to win the title for the fifth time.

The surprise semifinal lineup follows the trend of recent World Cups, which saw Croatia make the last four on their debut in 1998 and both Sweden and Bulgaria four years earlier.

In 1994 seven of the eight quarterfinalists were from Europe, in 1998 it was six and this time only four.

In the last two tournaments the underdogs finally fell at the penultimate hurdle and the odds again point to Brazil and Germany emerging to do battle in the final in Yokohama on June 30.

Incredibly, despite both featuring in the latter stages of virtually every World Cup, the two countries have never met at any of the previous tournaments. But after the stunning shocks that have littered this one, nobody in either camp is yet thinking about anything but their semifinal opponents.

South Korea came into the tournament expecting to collect a win, hoping to make the second round but barely dreaming of anything more.

Now they face Germany in their capital Seoul tomorrow with any last shreds of fear or inferiority long since blown away by their superb performances and the extraordinary support they get both in the stadiums and on the streets of every Korean city.

In 18 months Dutch coach Guus Hiddink has somehow turned the co-hosts into a team capable of beating anyone — including Germany — and will ensure they go into the match fully expecting to win and not settling for what they have already achieved.

During the same period Rudi Voeller has performed similar surgery to rejuvenate Germany, who were arguably among the worst teams at the 2000 European championships and now, after making optimum use of their aerial power, find themselves within one game of the World Cup final for a remarkable 10th time.

Even Franz Beckenbauer, who led them to the title as a player and coach, had earlier dismissed their chances but will recognize in the squad the sort of mental steel that always characterizes German teams and makes them so consistent at major tournaments.

Turkey will not fear playing Brazil in Saitama on Wednesday and have revenge in mind after their controversial 2-1 defeat in their first round match when they got the better of the South Americans for long periods but ended with two men sent off.

Turkey’s return to the world stage was in danger of being short-lived when they gave away a late equalizer to Costa Rica, but they kept faith with their attractive passing and possession game to beat China 3-0 — enough goals to make the second round.

They then came through very different but equally difficult tests against Japan and Senegal, showing tenacity as well terrific poise on the ball, and are certainly making up for lost time after a 48-year absence from the tournament.

So to Brazil. Until last year the four-time winners had only ever lost one World Cup qualifier, but then somehow managed to suffer defeat six times in one campaign to limp into the finals just three points ahead of nearest rivals Colombia.

Unheard of defeats to the likes of Australia, Honduras and South Korea in friendlies, and coach Luiz Felipe Scolari’s apparent confusion over his first-choice team, left them trailing Argentina, France, Italy and even Spain.

But they are in the semifinals again and, though they have not yet scaled the heights of some previous teams in the gold and green, they have shown admirable fighting spirit, particularly with 10 men in the quarterfinal comeback win over England.

Once again, the Brazilians and their samba skills bring an undeniable pedigree to a wonderfully refreshing last four.