SEOUL: South Korea’s coach apologized to fans Wednesday after a 1-0 defeat to Tunisia tempered World Cup hopes in their final home friendly before the tournament in Brazil.

Hong Myung-Bo, a hero of South Korea’s run to the 2002 semifinals, said his team would struggle in Brazil if they cannot fix their problems.

Midfielder Zouhaier Dhaouadi netted the game’s only goal late in the first half at Seoul World Cup Stadium, as the visitors handed Georges Leekens a victory on his debut as coach.

While Tunisia celebrated, this was clearly not the send-off the Taeguk Warriors wanted as they set off for their eighth consecutive World Cup.

“I’m sorry we didn’t get a good result in our last home match,” Hong told the crowd after the game.

He added at the post-match press conference: “I think this match will teach us a big lesson. We gave away too much space in the middle and the back, and that allowed Tunisian forward to play freely.

“Unless we can fix that, we will continue to have a difficult time.” Goal-shy South Korea, who will face Belgium, Algeria and Russia in Group H, travel to Miami on Friday where they will play another friendly against Ghana on June 9.

After a cautious start, South Korean captain Koo Ja-Cheol had the first dangerous attempt from outside the box in the 14th minute, but fired just wide of the right post.

The hosts were shading possession but were not able to threaten. Bayer Leverkusen’s Son Heung-Min got a sight of goal on the half-hour but his shot went straight at goalkeeper Farouk Ben Mustapha.

Tunisia came into the game late in the first half, with Wissem Yahya forcing South Korean ‘keeper Jung Sung-Ryong into a sharp save in the 42nd minute.

And the visitors broke the deadlock two minutes later, when Dhaouadi took the ball in midfield and sprinted virtually uncontested into the area before putting it past the diving Jung.

South Korea came out with more life after the break. On-loan Arsenal striker Park Chu-Young struck a low shot from the edge of the box, but Ben Mustapha parried.

USA downs Azerbaijan

In San Francisco, second-half goals from Mix Diskerud and Aron Johannsson lifted the United States to a 2-0 victory over Azerbaijan on Tuesday in a pre-World Cup international friendly.

Playing their first match since manager Jurgen Klinsmann announced his 23-man squad for the World Cup finals — from which all-time leading US scorer Landon Donovan was a notable absentee — the United States still have a few things to sort out before heading to Brazil.

While Donovan’s omission was big news, a big question remaining for the United States is who will be the starting central defense pairing when they take on Ghana in their World Cup opener on June 16.

With regular starter Omar Gonzalez nursing an injury, DaMarcus Beasley and Geoff Cameron started together on Tuesday but were rarely tested in the early going.

The Americans created several quality scoring chances early, despite the absence of Clint Dempsey, who was scratched just before kickoff due to groin soreness and replaced by Chris Wondolowski.

The Americans didn’t miss a beat with Wondolowski up top as the first chance came in just the fourth minute when Graham Zusi floated a free kick onto the head of Wondolowski, whose powerful header was parried away by Azerbaijan goalkeeper Kamran Agayev.

The visitors had an opportunity to strike in the 12th minute when a free kick from Mahir Sukurov hit the right post.

The Americans found it tough to break down a stubborn Azerbaijan back line in the first half and went into the break scoreless.

With the pace slower in the second half, the United States broke through in the 75th minute when a free kick from Brad Davis was knocked down in the penalty area.

Michael Bradley’s effort from the edge of the box was stopped by Agayev, but Diskerud was there to fire home the third international goal of his career.

Six minutes later the Americans made it 2-0 when Davis served an excellent left-footed corner kick into the box onto the head of Johannsson, who rose and powered a header into the top right corner of the net.

The United States cruised home for the victory in the first of three warm-up matches before their departure for the World Cup.

Klinsmann’s team will next be in action on Sunday against Turkey at Red Bull Arena in New Jersey.

They play Nigeria in Jacksonville, Florida, on June 7.

The United States are drawn in Group G along with Ghana, who reached the quarter-finals in the 2010 edition, Euro 2012 semi-finalists Portugal and one of the favorites for the trophy — Klinsmann’s native

France thrashes Norway

In Paris, Olivier Giroud scored a double as France stepped up their World Cup preparations on Tuesday with a 4-0 victory over Norway at the Stade de France in the first of three pre-tournament friendlies.

Paul Pogba netted a first-half opener in Paris, while Giroud enhanced his reputation ahead of next month’s finals in Brazil through a second-half brace that came either side of Loic Remy’s first international goal since 2011.

France coach Didier Deschamps was satisfied with the performance and the progress the team was making.

“We are not yet ready, but there is a collective hunger and a real togetherness about them,” said Deschamps, who captained France to their 1998 World Cup victory at the same ground.

“It is good what we did tonight. One mustn’t lose sight of our ultimate target but our performance reflected the work we have already done.” Despite the absence of some key regulars, Deschamps fielded a strong side featuring seven probable starters for Les Bleus’ World Cup opener against Honduras on June 15.

France will next head to Nice to play Paraguay on Sunday before making the trip north for a friendly with Jamaica in Lille on June 8.

They kick off their World Cup campaign against Honduras in Porto Alegre before facing Switzerland and Ecuador in Group E.