It's not that Guus HIDDINK and Bruce ARENA have anything against one another. It's just that they've seen plenty of each other in a six month period. In NOV 2001, Hiddink's Korea Republic side were drawn against Arena's American squad in Group B of the 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The next month, they were drawn against one another again, in Group D of the Men's World Cup. And that was a week prior to their long scheduled friendly to open the tenth and final Korean venue, Jeju World Cup Stadium in Seogwipo.

POLAND
Poland coach Jerzy ENGEL was widely criticised in the runup to the tournament for selecting his starters poorly. After two shutout losses, to Korea Rep and to Portugal, it seemed pretty clear who was in the right. Sure enough, in their last match, after they'd already been eliminated, Engel pulled the likes of Jerzy DUDEK, Michal ZEWLAKOW, and Piotr SWIERCZEWSKI in favour of Radoslaw MAJDAN, Cezary KUCHARSKI, and Arkadiusz GLOWACKI. Five minutes in, they led the United States 2-0 on their way to a 3-1 win. Engel, of course, was sacked shortly after Poland's return home, but the nation's young talent, including 23 year old Nigerian born striker Emmanuel OLISADEBE, should have them targeting success at Germany 2006.

PORTUGAL
Portugal were in the unique position of being the only group favourites not to have reached France 1998. As the tournament opened, they were in the all too common position of group favourites to stumble at the first hurdle. In the fourth minute, John O'BRIEN scored on a ball that Portugal goalkeeper Vitor BAIA could not control. That was followed by an unfortunate own goal that skipped off Jorge COSTA and a spectacular header from Brian MCBRIDE. BETO was the only Portuguese player to put a ball into the opposition's net, and another own goal, this by the US's Jeff AGOOS, gave them nineteen minutes to avoid humiliation.

But the Americans withstood the pressure, and Portugal's "Golden Generation" of Luis FIGO, RUI COSTA, JOÃO PINTO, Sergio CONCEICÃO, and so on looked more like rusted iron. A 4-0 roll over Poland gave them a shot at the next round, but they lost their heads against Korea Rep, swarming the referee after João Pinto was shown the red card for his violent tackle from behind on PARK Ji Sung. Park would score the winner that sent Portugal packing.

UNITED STATES
The United States had lost the friendly with the Korea Republic 1-0 and defeated them 2-1 at the Gold Cup. The rubber match finished 1-1, and the US's loss to Poland would have finished them off, but for their friend Park Ji Sung. Arena promised to send a gift basket to Hiddink and the Korean side. By the end of the group stage, US keeper Brad FRIEDEL, who was given the starting job just days before the tournament kicked off, had saved two penalties and was one of the Americans' keys.

A well taken early goal by McBride helped the United States past Mexico in the second round, setting up a quarterfinal tie with Germany. Of the US's five opponents at Korea/Japan 2002, they had met three of them - Korea Rep, Mexico, and Germany - in the previous six months. Germany would win 1-0, but only after the US controlled much of the pace and forced several fine saves from goalkeeper Oliver KAHN. A nation that normally reserves celebrations for champions finally noticed its toiling footballers, who came home in eighth place.

KOREA REPUBLIC
The entire Korea Republic side mobbed coach Hiddink after HWANG Sun Hong scored their first goal of the tournament, a perfectly placed volley just inside the near post. By the time the improbable Korean run was up, the entire nation was mobbing Hiddink. With each match the red-outfitted seas at stadiums grew, as did the accompanying noise. Their dream looked to be ending, though, as a second round match with Italy loomed.

Nerves showed early as AHN Jung Hwan missed a penalty in the fifth minute, but Italy's superior defense could only hold for so long before giving up the equaliser to SEOL Hi Kyeon and the golden goal to Ahn. A shootout win over Spain saw the Koreans through to a semifinal against Germany, where they were finally defeated by a Michael BALLACK goal in the 75th minute. Korea Rep then went to a thrilling third place match, where their uncharacteristically porous defense was responsible for a 3-2 loss to Turkey. In a spectacle that the footballing world will not soon forget, Korea Rep became Asia's first semifinalists and turned a nation red with pride.

"The Korean fans will get to cheer their side past the group stage for the first time, and Portugal will also emerge from a closely contested group that will be decided in the final minutes." We were again partly right with this prediction, though anyone who tells you that Korea Rep's appearance in the semifinals was not a surprise is a liar.