Korea's 'golden generation' wins bronze

Goals from Arsenal's Park Chu-Young and captain Koo Ja-Cheol sealed Korea Republic's first Olympic football medal, and further enhanced Hong's reputation as a national hero having captained the national side to the semi-finals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

His Olympic squad is being viewed at home as a golden generation of South Korean footballers, and the coach said: "I think I have achieved my goal in every aspect.

"We started at a lower level when you compare us to other players and groups.

"But I believe we have been one of the best at the Olympics and to be called a dream team, I am very proud of that."

Korea's victory means the players will be exempted from military service.

And Hong, who described the scene in the team's dressing room after the game as "chaos", believes the reward for his players' efforts can only benefit football in South Korea with the next World Cup just two years away.

He said: "I was very happy at the final whistle, I felt happy that I don't have to go to the army either!

"The primary target was victory, then we can talk about military service.

"Our players did an excellent job today and it is not only a benefit for each player when they don't need to go to the army, it is beneficial for all of Korean football and it's very important for the future in general."

Japan coach Takashi Sekizuka felt Korea's clinical finishing had been the difference in a game of few chances.

He said: "The decisive point was that it was really difficult to break the Korean defensive line.

"We had good chances from set pieces but we were not able to take them.

"We kept pushing but we were not able to take these chances and they were able to take theirs."