Semi-final |
Seoul
Tue Jun 25 2002 | 12:30 BST
Live on BBC Radio Five Live
South Korea striker Ahn Jung-Hwan's chances of facing Germany in the World Cup semi-final were boosted by his return to training on Monday.
The Perugia forward, who scored the golden goal that knocked out Italy in the last 16, is a key player for Guus Hiddink's side.
But he has been a doubt for Tuesday's showdown since injuring an ankle in the quarter-final victory over Spain.
And Hiddink must wait until the day of the game until he can be certain if Ahn Jung-Hwan will be fit to play.
"This was the first session he's had, even though it was a slight session," the Korea coach said.
"He did participate, which is good, but I will wait to see if there is a reaction tomorrow, so I can't be confident that he is 100% okay."
Hiddink is also sweating on the fitness of two other players.
Midfielder Kim Nam-Il also has an ankle problem, while Yoo Sang-Chul is also struggling with a less serious knock.
However, Hiddink at least believes he no longer need worry about another factor potentially as important as the fitness of his leading men.
The Dutch coach believes he has changed his players' attitude towards playing European teams.
Korean players celebrate victory over Spain
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The World Cup co-hosts, although traditionally one of the strongest Asian teams, had always suffered against major football superpowers.
In previous World Cup finals they had failed to win a game in 14 attempts but this year Hiddink has led them to the semi-finals.
There they will meet Germany on Tuesday but, having beaten Portugal in their group and knocked out Italy and Spain in the latter stages of the competition, the tie will hold no fears for South Korea.
But Hiddink revealed that when he first took over as the national team coach it was a different story.
"They had a false respect for European teams," he said.
"They felt inferior to European teams."
All of that has now changed and whatever happens against the Germans, Dutch coach Hiddink has given the nation of South Korea an adventure they never dreamed possible.
But that has raised expectations and now there is a suspicion that the football crazy population will not settle for anything less than reaching the final.
"Now they expect something they didn't believe and many experts didn't believe, either," he said on Sunday.
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