Son Heung-min has revealed details of his x-rated speech to his South Korea team as they endured the longest six minutes of their lives, watching the live stream of Uruguay's game against Ghana.
Tottenham striker Son inspired the Koreans to a brilliant late winner against Portugal at Doha's Education City Stadium on Friday, carrying the ball for half the length of the pitch in the first minute of stoppage time to set up Hwang Heechan for the second in a 2-1 win.
Then they huddled around phones, watching the live stream of the Uruguayans finishing their final Group H game aware that another goal for the South Americans, who were winning 2-0, would have sent them through to the last 16 and sent South Korea home.
'It was the longest six minutes of my life,' said Son. 'In the circle we were really positive. The guys were saying, we deserve this. Then I said: 'Look, whatever happens, even if Uruguay score one more goal, I'm f***ing proud of this team and very happy we gave everything, we'll see what going to happen'.
'And everyone was just waiting but those minutes were long minutes.'
Son cried tears of joy when Ghana held out at 2-0 and South Korea went through on goals scored.
It helped soothe the heartache of four years ago at the World Cup in Russia, when they won their final group game against Germany only to be eliminated, along with the Germans, as Mexico and Sweden went through from their group.
'It was a similar moment,' said Son. 'We beat Germany 2-0 and if Mexico had won their game maybe we would go through but this time was different so we were waiting on other results.
'I didn't even think about four years ago. I was just so happy and so proud of these moments. What else can I say. I was really happy and really proud. What we did was an unbelievable performance. Everyone gave everything and I'm very happy and very proud to me with this team.'
South Korea go on to face Brazil in the last-16 on Monday and will depend on their team spirit and togetherness against one of the big favourites to win the World Cup.
'We are spending more time together than with our friends and families,' said Son. 'In the camp, the guys have already been here for more than a month so we are close, really close.
'I'm grateful because those who didn't play could be really sad but they didn't show their disappointment, they gave everything on the bench to support us and this makes a huge difference to be one team. I'm happy and grateful to lead this team. It makes a huge difference.'