South Korea comes to a standstill as game begins

As this World Cup quarter-final got under way in Gwanju, the entire South Korean nation once again has come to a standstill to see if Guus Hiddink can work yet another miracle and lead their team to the World Cup semi-finals for the first time.

An estimated five million people have taken to the streets to watch Korea’s showdown with Spain in Gwangju on hundreds of big television screens.

Korea’s chances of making yet more history by becoming the first Asian side to reach the last four increased when they received the Spanish teamsheet and saw that Raul was only fit enough to start on the bench.

Raul, who has been struggling with a groin injury all week, would only be used in case of an emergency and instead coach Jose Antonio Camacho has paired Juan Carlos Valeron with Fernando Morientes in attack.

Camacho made two more changes and Juanfran and Luis Enrique, who has been injured, did not start, while in came Romero, Nadal and Joaquin.

Korea, who are still on a high after beating Italy in the last round, were unchanged for the biggest match in their history.