Isn’t the third-place play-off supposed to be a dull, meaningless affair?

NOW it finally begins; the elevation to fame and fortune or the descent into anonymity.

IRELAND’S Damien Duff and Robbie Keane have been bizarrely excluded by a FIFA panel of so-called experts in a 33-strong short-list for its all-star team of the tournament.

South Korea captain Hong Myung-bo says his team don't fear anybody ahead of the World Cup semi-final against Germany.

South Korea midfielder Kim Nam-il, who is recovering from an ankle injury, has returned to training - but was restricted to stretching alone.

At the start, they just wanted to record their first World Cup win. Then they wanted to reach the last 16. Once they had done that, they enviously eyed a place in the quarter-finals.

South Korea controversially beat Spain on penalties to become the first Asian side ever to reach the World Cup semi-finals.

South Korea controversially beat Spain on penalties to become the first Asian side ever to reach the World Cup semi-finals.

South Korea controversially beat Spain on penalties to become the first Asian side ever to reach the World Cup semi-finals.

Hwang Sun-hong sent the whole of South Korea into ecstasy when he scored their first goal of the World Cup against Poland in the Asiad Stadium.

Guus Hiddink, Dutch coach of co-hosts South Korea, has promised a positive approach to their World Cup opener against Poland in Busan.

As a player whose heroic qualities are revered in both host countries, it is fitting that South Korea and Japan should provide Hong Myung-bo with the stage to make World Cup history.

In World Cup year, and in his quest for career advancement, the golden boy of Korean football has played a worrying lack of football.

All the main moves from the England v South Korea friendly

How England's players rated against South Korea