YOKOHAMA, Japan, 23 June — South Korea and Turkey, both regarded as rank outsiders before the start of the World Cup, made history yesterday when they reached the last four after dramatic finishes to their quarterfinals.
Co-hosts Korea, 40-1 to reach the semifinals before the May 31 kickoff, created the most astonishing hysteria in the 72-year-old story of the tournament when they beat Spain after a penalty shootout in a controversial match in Kwangju.
Turkey, playing in their first finals for 48 years, defied their odds to win the trophy when they clinched a 1-0 victory over African debutants Senegal thanks to a golden goal from substitute Ilhan Mansiz four minutes into extra time.
The Korean victory, which provoked wild celebrations among 4.5 million people on the streets and nearly 40,000 in the stadium, sent Dutchman Guus Hiddink’s side into a semifinal with Germany in the capital Seoul on Tuesday.
The match against the three times winners will be their fourth consecutive game against top flight European competition after wins over Portugal, Italy and Spain.
Turkey will face four-time champions Brazil, who beat England 2-1 on Friday, in their first semifinal appearance in the Japanese city of Saitama on Wednesday.
The two teams met in a stormy opening first-round Group C game when Brazil won 2-1. Two Turkish players were sent off and Brazil’s Rivaldo was later fined for play-acting.
The Koreans became the first team from Asia to reach the semifinals thanks to a linesman’s glaring error which will add more fuel to a heated debate about the standard of refereeing at the finals which are being co-hosted with Japan.
Korea’s performance is remarkable because they began the tournament without a win in five previous appearances at the finals and were favorites to win the trophy.
Hiddink, a down-to-earth Dutchman turned Korean hero, said: “I can’t describe the feeling. More dreams have come true.”
The Koreans won the shootout 5-3 after the match finished goalless after 120 minutes. Captain Hong Myung-bo converted the final spot-kick after Joaquin had missed Spain’s fourth effort. Their golden goal win over Italy in the second round provoked fierce debate about refereeing and the Spanish players surrounded match officials at the end in scenes which threatened to turn ugly after more disputed decisions.
Three minutes into extra time, the Koreans looked to be going out after Joaquin clipped a ball over from the right for Fernando Morientes to head in at the far post.
The co-hosts won a reprieve, though, as the linesman had already raised his flag, ruling incorrectly that Joaquin had taken the ball over the goalline before crossing.
“I thought the referee would be fairer in a quarterfinal match like this,” Spain coach Jose Antonio Camacho said of Egypt’s Gamal Ghandour.
Around 4.5 million Koreans, about 10 percent of the population, took to the streets to watch the game on giant television screens.
The super-fit Koreans are now being called the “Germans of Asia” because of the way they chase a game until the last second.
They have played Germany once before, in the first round in 1994. The Germans won 3-2 in Dallas in a match which is remembered for an obscene gesture by German midfielder Stefan Effenberg who was subsequently sent home from the tournament.
German coach Rudi Voeller, who was in the 1994 squad but did not play against Korea, said the Germans, who beat the US 1-0 in Friday’s quarterfinal, had to believe in their ability.
“If we don’t do that against Korea, it will be the end for us,” he said.
Hiddink added: “We will approach the next match against Germany like, once more, a bunch of young dogs. We have gone so far and have nothing to lose.”
Turkey and Senegal, bidding to become the first African team to reach the last four, failed to score in regulation time despite a fast-flowing match.
But Ilhan striker shot home on the half-volley from eight meters out following a right-wing cross by Umit Davala to put the Turks into the last four at only their second World Cup.
“Everybody in Turkish football has put in a lot of effort — we are now living one of our most important days,” Turkey coach Senol Gunes.
