LEVERKUSEN, June 12 - In 2002, Dutch coach Guus Hiddink steered unfashionable South Korea to the World Cup semi-finals.

Four years on, compatriot Dick Advocaat will show in Korea's Group G opener against Togo in Frankfurt on Tuesday whether he is carving a similar work of art or a poor imitation.

Emboldened by a passionate wave of home support, Korea became the first Asian side to reach the last four after eliminating soccer superpowers like Italy, Spain and Portugal.

Only a highly organised and physically superior Germany side prevented them reaching the final.

While there are doubts over their ability to achieve similar heroics on foreign shores, Korea say they will not be satisfied with anything less than a place in the second round.

"We are going to show that what we did four years ago was no fluke," said striker Seol Ki-hyeon.

"The pressure is more than it was four years ago. We hadn't won a single game in the World Cup before 2002 but then we reached the semi-finals.

"It won't be easy playing against Togo, Switzerland and France but we are ready to beat them. We are very confident."

Togo have had more than their share of problems.

They were woeful in the 2006 African Nations Cup and things deteriorated when the team arrived in Germany, coach Otto Pfister walking out because he felt a pay row among the squad meant he could not do his job properly.

"When I started to be manager of Togo, I was promised bonuses for the players would be cleared. That is still not the case so I decided to quit immediately," he said.

"I'm not managing a team at the World Cup, my life's dream has been destroyed."

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