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Dutch board Hiddink's Seoul train

Hiddink acknowledges another high-profile scalp

SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) -- Their team were the surprise absentees of the World Cup, but The Netherlands still have one representative in final games of the tournament.

And Dutch fans have thrown their support behind the only Dutchman in the finals -- South Korean coach Guus Hiddink.

Hiddink has led co-hosts South Korea on a remarkable road to the last four, whipping up a frenzy of excitement in a country which had previously tasted only defeat.

"They are experiencing something they couldn't believe, something the experts couldn't believe," he says.

Hiddink, 55, was an inspired signing by Korean officials anxious to make a mark with the world watching. Five previous appearances in the finals had failed to produce a single victory.

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The coach took The Netherlands to the semifinals in 1998 where they lost a classic to Brazil after a penalty shootout. On the way they beat South Korea 5-0 -- another illustration of how far his new charges have come.

Rutger Slagter, Dutch football correspondent for Onefootball.com, said: "He is very well respected in The Netherlands and we are enjoying his success.

"Everybody is talking about Hiddink and the way his team is performing. He is acting like a typical Dutch coach defending from the front and making use of the opponents' weaknesses.

"It's entertaining football compared to Germany and Belgium. Dutch fans are supporting South Korea because they are the underdogs and because of Hiddink.

"It is nice to watch a Dutchman doing well and perhaps people will forget Holland is not at the World Cup."

Hiddink has steered clear of entering the row over the elimination of Portugal, Italy and Spain by his South Korean side.

While the European big guns fume and point accusing fingers at referees, Hiddink says: "When you are a big team you must punish a little team in normal play.

"It's rather easy to go on blaming referees or linesmen. Of course they make mistakes just as players or coaches make mistakes."

This down-to-earth attitude helps makes Hiddink a hero to South Korean Red Devil fans. "Hiddink for president", said one of the banners in the crowd.

He never made the big time as a midfield player with Dutch sides De Graafschap and PSV. But he flourished as a coach, leading PSV to three Dutch titles and the European Cup in 1988.

He moved to Fenerbahce in Turkey and Valencia in Spain before taking charge of the Dutch national side in 1995.

After France 98 he returned to Spain, spending a year at Real Madrid and six months with Real Betis before South Korea recruited him.

Hiddink embarked on a series of friendly internationals against tough opposition. Results were not good at first but slowly he imposed his style on the team -- neat passing, swift attacking and crowding out opponents in defence.

He has also fostered a terrific team spirit -- another legacy of his time with the Dutch side when he showed no patience for egos.

Win or lose against Germany in the semifinal, Hiddink has already taken his side way beyond all expectations and changed the future of football across Asia.