Kahn - no fear over referee. (Allsport)

By Paul Walker, PA Sport, Seoul

Oliver Kahn has insisted that Germany will not allow refereeing cock-ups to deflect them from their goal of reaching the World Cup Final.

The German keeper claimed Germany will not fall into the trap that has seen Italy and Spain eliminated after rows with officials during Korea's last two dramatic matches in their march to the last four.

Both Italy and Spain have suggested that officials have been favouring Korea in these finals, as the hosts have created history by becoming the first Asian side to reach this stage.

Kahn said Spain were "obsessed", and that Italy were overcome by paranoia. The 33-year-old German captain said: "We will not be affected by such a situation.

"Spain were too obsessed by what they perceived by as wrong decisions by the referee. Italy too allowed it to get to them. In the end it just worked against them."

The Italians were incensed by the dismissal of playmaker Francesco Totti and with a bad offside decision that robbed Damiano Tommasi of a golden goal winner in Daejeon last week.

And Spain were left fuming after being knocked out in the quarter-final in Gwangju on Saturday when a linesman's flag wrong ruled that the ball had crossed the goal-line before being crossed for Fernando Morientes to score.

The Italians have been in uproar ever since and there have even been dark claims of a conspiracy against them and bribery.

And Perugia have even refused to extend the loan deal of Ahn Jung-hwan, who scored the golden goal header that sent Italy home in fury.

But Kahn was unmoved by the fury of his European neighbours, and expected the officials at the Seoul World Cup stadium for Tuesday's semi-final with Korea, to be of top quality.

He said: "We are talking about a semi-final this time and what we are looking for is a level of refereeing that suits a semi-final match.

"I believe referees will be fair to us and make fair decisions. Even if we did face an unjust call, we won't dwell on them for too long during the match."

The anger in Europe over refereeing decisions has raged on since the two Korean matches, and Ecuador referee Byron Moreno - who was in charge of the Italy game - has hit back on his way home to South America.

At a stopover in Miami, he said in an interview: "If the Italians speak of corruption it must be because they are accustomed to practicing it.

"What moral weight do the Italians have when one of their club officials can sack a South Korean for scoring a goal against them?

"My conscience is clear, even though I have been told that the Italians claim they have proof that I was paid by the Korean football federation.

"This is a very serious allegation and they should prove it. Otherwise they will have problems not only with me but also with the Korean federation because no-one can accuse us of being dishonest. They cannot play with people's honour."