Psychological powers -- not refereeing conspiracies -- have fuelled South Korea's historic run to the World Cup semi-finals, according to a leading football doctor and referees.
Football's medical expert Toni Graf-Baumann said the Koreans had shown remarkable "mental fitness" in controversial defeats of three strong European sides -- Portugal, Italy and Spain.
"GERMANS OF ASIA"
Before the World Cup, Korea had not won a single game in their five previous appearances at the finals.
But this team has become known as the "Germans of Asia" because of the way their superior fitness helps them fight until the final seconds -- the common denominator of successful teams from Germany who have won the World Cup three times.
"Korea Team Fighting" has been one of the slogans for the side at the finals.
"They are very mentally fit," said FIFA's German medical expert Graf-Baumann. "They play such effective football. They are so fresh. Also they don't over-react to refereeing decisions. They accept them and get on with their effective game."
