YOKOHAMA, June 24: Four of South Korea’s surprise World Cup side, which against all expectations has reached the semifinals, have been picked by a FIFA panel of experts in a 33-strong short-list for its all-star team of the tournament.

Ahn Jung-hwan, who scored the golden goal winner in the shock second-round 2-1 victory over Italy, is included along with captain and defender Hong Myung-bo, midfielder Yoo Sang-chul and goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae.

The feared Brazilian three R’s — Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo — are also included along with German’s five-goal striker Miroslav Klose who takes on South Korea on Tuesday in Seoul in the first semifinal.

Turkey, who contest a semifinal with favourites Brazil on Wednesday in Saitama, have keeper Rustu Recber, defender Alpay Ozalan and striker Hasan Sas included.

The Japanese midfield pairing of Hidetoshi Nakata and Junichi Inamoto were also in the 33 but surprisingly, England’s impressive defender Rio Ferdinand failed to win a place.

Pele, who won the World Cup three times in 1958, 1962 and 1970 with Brazil, will announce the final all-star World Cup team on June 28 in Yokohama, two days before the final in the same Japanese city.

The 10-strong panel of coaches is headed by respected coach Jozef Venglos who coached the former Czechoslovakia at the 1990 finals in Italy.

FIFA All-Star Team shortlist:

Goalkeepers: Oliver Kahn (Germany), Marcos (Brazil), Iker Casillas (Spain), Rustu Recber (Turkey), Lee-Woon-jae (South Korea)

Defenders: Cafu (Brazil), Roberto Carlos (Brazil), Sol Campbell (England), Hong Myung-bo (South Korea), Alpay Ozalan (Turkey), Fernando Hierro (Spain), Johan Mjallby (Sweden)

Midfielders: David Beckham (England), Junichi Inamoto (Japan), Hidetoshi Nakata (Japan), Pape Malick Diop (Senegal), Claudio Reyna (U.S.), Michael Ballack (Germany), Yoo Sang-chul (South Korea), Marc Wilmots (Belgium).

Forwards: Rivaldo (Brazil), Ronaldo (Brazil), Ronaldinho (Brazil), El Hadji Diouf (Senegal), Ahn Jung-hwan (South Korea), Landon Donovan (U.S.), Raul (Spain), Hasan Sas (Turkey), Miroslav Klose (Germany), Christian Vieri (Italy), Henrik Larsson (Sweden), Michael Owen (England), Jon Dahl Tomasson (Denmark).—Reuters