Hiddink - not getting carried away. (Allsport)

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South Korea boss Guus Hiddink is trying to lower expectations of the country's football fans ahead of the World Cup.

He fears they may be losing touch with reality.

The Koreans' build-up to the finals has been impressive, thrashing Scotland 4-1 before earning a deserved 1-1 draw with England and yesterday they led world champions France at half-time before losing 3-2.

"Korea is catching up with the bigger teams in world football," Hiddink said.

"But we still have to realise where our place is and we are still the fourth ranked team in the group."

The true test begins later this week when the games are for real.

They open against Poland, and later face Portugal and the United States.

"Day by day we are improving tactically and, quite honestly, we need to be as before it was total chaos," he said.

"In a very short time we have changed from an inexperienced team to one that can control a game even against the world champions.

"But we still have to be realistic. If you do not have experience at playing at a high level every week you have the tendency to think that things are going well and you have it in the bag. And then suddenly things stop going your way."