South Korea coach Dick Advocaat admitted his all-out attacking approach may have hurt his team as they exited the 2006 World Cup with a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Switzerland.

The Koreans knew they realistically had to win against the Swiss to go through to the knockout phase for the second World Cup in a row after reaching the semi-finals in 2002.

But Philippe Senderos' header in the 23rd minute and a controversial second from Alexander Frei 13 minutes from time gave Switzerland the three points that saw them finish top of Group G and progress to the second round along with France.

"We started with four strikers and at international level that's dangerous," said the former Holland and Rangers manager. "That's why Switzerland were able to play a little bit easier than us.

"They were playing on the counter attack and we pressured them. I thought also there was a clear penalty at their side which was not given. But the first half was with Switzerland and the second half was with us."

The Koreans thought they should have been awarded a spot-kick when, nine minutes into the second half, the ball appeared to hit Patrick Mueller on the arm, but referee Horacio Elizondo ignored the protests of Advocaat's team.

The penalty appeal, however, was all but forgotten when Frei added the second as the Koreans pushed forward, the referee over-ruling his assistant's offside flag after Xavier Margairaz's through ball was deflected into the striker's path by a Korean defender.

With the Korean defence expecting to hear the referee's whistle, Frei continued to play, rounding goalkeeper Lee Woon Jae and killing off the challenge for the 2002 semi-finalists.

"I think the referee was very quick to change the decision," said Advocaat. "Our player has touched the ball and for me Frei was offside because he was standing there and he got the ball, but people told me he was not offside.

"But most of the decisions were not on our side. Sometimes luck is with you and tonight it wasn't."

Swiss coach Koebi Kuhn was delighted with the victory and claimed his team had the more intelligent approach to the game.

"It was a very, very intense match," he said. "We knew beforehand that the game against the South Koreans would be tough.

"They are a very fit team and they are very strong and we prepared our team very well for our opponents.

"We adapted well and didn't have to run as far as they did. We were the smarter team. Despite being young the players have experience and they used that to fight back."