"To be fair, the players were very calm at halftime even though they were behind," Advocaat told reporters after the game.

Kader Mohamed gave Togo a stunning 31st minute lead but the 2002 semi-finalists responded with a second-half double from Lee Chun-Soo and Ahn Jung-Hwan.

"In the second half we took some risks and it was a success," the Dutchman said.

Advocaat signified the importance of beginning the World Cup campaign with a win.

It is so important to win your first game because it normally means you stay in the tournament for the second round."

Meanwhile, Togo coach Otto Pfister aid he was proud of his players despite the defeat.

"My team gave a good performance," said the German. "The Koreans had three or four chances, we had four or five. When you don't score you lose."

The German boss said that his team's numerical disadvantage, following the ejection of captain Jean-Paul Abalo, was their impediment.

"Early in the game there was little difference between the teams. When you get a red card, then it becomes hard," he said. "Overall we played a good match in a 10 v 11 situation."