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South Korea’s triumph over Italy in the 2002 World Cup remains one of the most contentious matches in the tournament’s long history.

The Asian nation’s historic journey to the semi-finals that year stands as one of the most extraordinary achievements in modern football. Under the guidance of Dutch coach Guus Hiddink, the co-hosts exceeded all expectations, becoming the first Asian team ever to reach the World Cup’s final four.

Along the way, South Korea eliminated two European giants — Italy and Spain — both results among the most debated outcomes in World Cup lore.

Emerging from a group that featured Portugal, Poland, and the United States was already a remarkable feat for the Taeguk Warriors. Yet, Hiddink’s team was only beginning their incredible run.

“We won the group to reach the last 16, then eliminating Italy and Spain was sensational,” Hiddink recalled in an interview with FourFourTwo. “There was some controversy with the referees in those games – let’s just say sometimes things go your way, sometimes they don’t.”

He added, “I never heard my Spanish friends complain about the role of the referee afterwards.”

However, Italy’s elimination was a far more emotional affair. Tensions flared after Francesco Totti received a second yellow card for simulation, leading to his dismissal, and Damiano Tommasi’s golden goal was controversially ruled out.

“It was different with my Italian friends – they were absolutely furious about a second yellow card Francesco Totti got for a dive, and the disallowed golden goal by Damiano Tommasi,” the Dutch manager continued. “Afterwards, they trashed the entire dressing room. Chairs flew through the air. I stood at a distance, arms crossed, watching. The Italians really needed to blow off steam. They forgot that Totti should have had a red card for an elbow earlier on.”

Ultimately, it was striker Ahn Jung-hwan who sealed Italy’s fate, scoring the golden goal that sent South Korea into the quarter-finals. Hiddink fondly remembered his earlier advice to the forward before the tournament.

“Ahn Jung-hwan scored the golden goal for us – at the time, he was playing at Perugia, in Italy of all places. He’d missed a penalty early in that game, but he still became the celebrated man,” Hiddink said. “By South Korean standards, Ahn was quite a character. When we first saw him, he arrived in fashionable clothes, his hair neatly styled. He already had the mannerisms of an Italian, but he was lacking physically. I told him: ‘Get your physique in order, then you can return to the squad.’ He took that advice very seriously.”

“Ahn is still something of a showman – he appears frequently on television in South Korea these days,” Hiddink concluded.