A squad that few - including their own fans - gave a chance of even getting out of the group put the likes of Italy and Spain to the sword in a run that no Asian nation has yet been able to emulate.
Success at the first Asia-based World Cup in 2002 led to the belief a new era of Asian football awaited. While that didn't turn out to be the case, hope springs anew at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.