Hiddink watches on during the game (Allsport)

By PA Sport Staff

South Korea coach Guus Hiddink believes his players paid for having too much respect for Germany as their World Cup adventure came to an end with a 1-0 semi-final defeat.

Michael Ballack hit the 75th-minute winner - but he will miss the final after picking up his second yellow card of the tournament four minutes earlier.

Hiddink said: "I am disappointed that we are not going to be there, and we are trying now to calm down our emotions.

"The German team were a little bit more experienced. We tried to close them down in the second half but in the first half we had a little too much respect for them.

"I do not want to look for excuses. But we were marking too far away from our opponents, and that is down to experience.

"After half-time it went better, but we did not have the big chance.

"You have to be realistic and say they are experienced, and in the end that will pay."

Hiddink was still full of praise for his heroes who have already beaten Portugal, Italy and Spain.

"They can still be proud of what they did and not just tonight but during the whole tournament," he said.

"I am very proud of what they achieved."

Skipper Hong Myung-bo, a tower of strength throughout the competition - his fourth and last, said: "We have no regrets, we did our best. Germany just seemed to have prepared a lot and we had difficulties.

"Now we must go to the third-placed final and do our best for the Korean people.

"We thank them from the bottom of our hearts and we promise to do our best to the very end."