SEOUL, 24 June — The amazing South Korean team began plotting the downfall of Germany yesterday after becoming the first Asian team to qualify for the semifinals of the World Cup.

The Koreans had never even won a World Cup match before this tournament but they now stand one match away from the final in Yokohama next Sunday.

The co-hosts are one of two rookies in the last four along with Turkey who face four-time winners Brazil on Wednesday in Saitama, Japan, after a remarkable performance in their first appearance in the tournament for 48 years.

Three-time champions Germany will face a cauldron of nationalistic fervor when they play Korea in the 65,000-capacity Seoul World Cup Sangam Stadium tomorrow.

It will be the first time that the Koreans have brought their stunning run to the capital and millions are expected to turn the city and the rest of the nation red once again.

South Koreans celebrated their team’s penalty shootout over Spain into the early hours of yesterday, their joy undimmed by Spanish claims that refereeing mistakes played a major part in the Asians’ victory.

Korean striker Hwang Sun-hong said he had no doubt that the scalp of a physical German team could be added to those of Portugal, Italy and Spain.

“Now we can beat any team if we maintain this kind of spirit and momentum,” enthused Hwang. “The German defense has got to be attacked from the wings.”

Coach Guus Hiddink, the Dutchman who has become a national hero for the way he has transformed the team’s fortunes, is more cautious.

“The players are looking forward to playing in the capital. Germany will have a little bit of an advantage because they have had one day extra. My players are not fresh and I hope they will recover,” he said.

“I hope we can match the German team for fitness. They are a smart team and a team that needs only one or two chances to bring them victory.”

Germany’s outstanding goalkeeper Oliver Kahn paid tribute to Hiddink.

“He has done a huge amount and got the team very well organized. You have to respect what he has done. To get the team to the semis is tremendous,” said Kahn.

Happy Turks also thronged the streets of their nation to toast their golden goal win over another surprise package, Senegal, in Saturday’s other quarterfinal.

Turkey’s victory dashed Africa’s hopes of having a first representative in the last four, but Senegal’s French coach Bruno Metsu said his men would depart with heads held high.

“Senegal’s performance here gives us a lot of hope for the future, for us and for Africa in general,” said Metsu.

“I am very proud that a small country like Senegal can come to the World Cup and rock the hierarchy of football.”

But if Senegal left with fond memories, the Spaniards were in no mood for pleasantries, Jose Camacho and several players claiming they were the latest victims of poor refereeing, having two “goals” chalked off against the Koreans before losing in a penalty shootout.

“What happened here was robbery,” said Spanish player Ivan Helguera. “The goals were completely valid.”

The Spanish ire followed similar angry broadsides from Portugal and Italy, who both lost earlier to the co-hosts adding fuel to a row over referees which has taken on major proportions.

The head of world governing body FIFA, Sepp Blatter, agreed that something had to be done.

“The whole system of selecting and designating referees needs to be looked at,” Blatter told AFP.

“We must return to a trio of officials of the same nationality because lack of communication has been the cause of several mistakes.” Senes Erzik, the Turkish head of FIFA’s referees’ committee, however, indicated that he thought the problem was not as serious.

“There have been one or two mistakes which is a cause of concern but overall the referees have been very well prepared for this World Cup ... and every match is reviewed,” he said in a statement.

One FIFA move which was likely to receive applause, however, was the decision not to extend the one-match ban on talented Brazilian midfielder Ronaldinho after he was sent off in the quarterfinal win over England.

They had the powers to make it two games out, but declined to do so, clearing the Paris St Germain player to play in the final should Brazil get past Turkey.