Hiddink, the former Real Madrid and Holland coach, has given South Korea hope and sent their fans wild. There will be 63,000 of them here for the Group D clash with the USA -who also won their opening match against the disappointing Portuguese.

Hiddink not only dismisses the expectancy level, he doesn’t miss the chance to answer his critics who were far from happy with his early months in charge.

He said: ‘‘I had us playing tough European and African teams then and people wanted me to go home. But I stuck to my plans and look at us now. People had short term views and didn’t appreciate what I was doing.’’

They do now, and it’s winner takes all time because victory for either side will ensure a place in the last 16.

But with thousands of fans camped outside the stadium for 48 hours in a desperate search for tickets, and a nation waiting to explode with patriotic joy, Hiddink refused to accept that there was any hint of pressure on him or his team.

‘‘There is no burden on me or the players. There is no pressure for a team ranked so low in the world,’’ he said.

‘‘Just consider where Korea have come from in just a few months. There was no team at that stage.

‘‘It will be tense and exciting against the USA. This will be a huge step for us, a difficult step but if we play as well as we did in the first game there will be no burden or nerves.

‘‘The players have no need for nerves. They have come so far and have become competitive, if they enjoy what they are doing and realise that what they have achieved is very satisfying considering where they were a short time ago, they will have no burden to carry.’’

But Hiddink is aware that their stunning, high tempo performance against the Poles has impressed all around the globe, and if they beat the USA then the expectations at home will become totally unrealistic on a squad with only two players - Perugia’s Ahn Jung Hwan and Anderlecht’s Seol Ki Hyeon - with any serious European experience.

Hyeon, one of the stars against Poland, underlined the growing confidence in the squad’s ranks that they can make history and reach the last 16.

He said: ‘‘We are confident and happy, the atmosphere is great in the camp. There is some nerves but more great anticipation and a good feeling about what is going to happen.’’

The clash with the Americans is being built up here as a problem match, politically as well as on the sporting side.

There is considerably anti-American feeling here following incidents in the recent Winter Olympics as well as criticism of major contracts for air defence being awarded to a US company.

Political and student groups have threatened demonstrations in Deagu and Seoul, and if the Koreans lose there are fears of public unrest. The country’s president Kim Dae-jung has appealed for calm and respect, but there are still troops in the hills overlooking this vast stadium and a huge security presence around the city.

The Americans have attempted to play all this down. Coach Bruce Arena said: ‘‘If we win I would expect the Koreans to be disappointed, but I would not expect them to resort to violence, it’s not that type of society. They are great people, very civil and I would not expect anything unusual to occur...

‘‘We are not aware of the political climate, South Koreans are our friends and allies, this is a soccer game, nothing else.’’

The Americans are more concerned about the fanatical atmosphere they will face.

Midfielder Tony Sanneh said: ‘‘We just have to stay together as a group and to concentrate. I hope it’s a festive occasion and although their crowd will be behind them I hope not in a negative way.’’

Arena added: ‘‘The Koreans have a lot of momentum behind them, the crowd and the warm conditions will be on their side. But we too have started well and have confidence and our own momentum.’’

The temperature will be around 90 degrees, but Arena said: ‘‘It will be very warm in mid-afternoon, but by half time the stadium will be covered in shadow.’’

Both Korea’s goalscorers against Poland - Hwang Sun-Bong and Yoo Sang-Chul have been recovering from back and knee injuries but are expected to play.

The Americans have a doubt over Earnie Stewart who has a groin strain, but should have Sunderland’s Claudio Reyna back from a muscle injury.