Former national soccer coach Guus Hiddink is urging the country's fans to have pride in their team and his successor Dick Advocaat.

In Seoul Thursday, Hiddink also expressed his unchanged affection for Team Korea but said despite a good team and coach, repeating the semifinal run of the 2002 World Cup in this year's tournament will be tough.

Hiddink will lead Australia in the World Cup in Germany, then take over the Russian team afterwards.

On Australia's prospects in the World Cup, he said he is not optimistic of a second round advance but added his players are happy to have qualified for soccer's top tournament.