Sweden 1 - Argentina -1 As the French went home and the Argentinians packed to do likewise it was moving day for the Irish yesterday.

Most of the squad said goodbye to their immediate families, who returned to their homes in Ireland and England, and the team itself then moved on to Seoul, South Korea where the pulse and the atmosphere are radically different from what was experienced in Japan.

A bumpy two-hour flight in a rusty puddle-hopper deemed too small to carry the luggage of the press corps brought the Irish contingent to Gimpo Airport outside Seoul, where even the air had its own flavour.

More humid and wet than Japan, the atmosphere is soupy and vivid. The team are billeted downtown in this city of over 10 million people and are no longer sheltered from the freneticism of the World Cup. Huge building-high banners adorn the teeming streets and evidence of football and partisan passions are everywhere.

Less surprising than the change of environment was the progress of the Spanish side to the last 16 having taken maximum points from their three games. They copper-fastened first place in their group with a win over South Africa at Daejeon and will now, as expected, face Ireland in Suwon on Sunday.

The result and the outcome of the Slovenia versus Paraguay game at Seogwipo meant heartbreak for the South Africans, who were looking to reach the second round for the first time.

South Africa twice equalised against the fluent Spaniards but a goal five minutes from time for Paraguay in Seogwipo meant that South Africa and Paraguay finished level on points and level on goal difference.

Paraguay had scored six goals to South Africa's five, however, and so they progressed.

"I thought South Africa were a good side," said Mick McCarthy, having remained in the team hotel to watch Sunday's opposition for the first time in this tournament, "and they caused Spain some problems. It was a very open game and when it's as open as that it makes you wonder.

"We have been quite open too and you begin to think perhaps you are too open and if you want an open game against a team like Spain."

The propaganda war thus began in earnest, with Ireland willingly embracing the role of plucky challenger to a superpower - Davids with nothing but slingshots and pebbles with which to fight Goliath.

"They (Spain) are obviously a very good side and have come through with nine points from the group which tells it's own story," said McCarthy.

"I didn't see their other group games but (former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper) Séamus McDonagh tells me they rested quite a few players tonight, they made a lot of changes. From what I've seen I would definitely put us in the role of underdog.

"I thought they were gifted the first goal and that the goalie was at fault also for the second. He set up his wall, stood behind it and then moved to the wrong side.

"For the third, though, I thought Raul made a great movement off the shoulder of Lucas Radebe.

"Generally they have some excellent players and it's all one-touch and two-touch and some of their movement is brilliant.

"As a side they look more offensive than the Germans, they like to leave two at the back and let the full backs push forward. I would rate them as potential World Cup winners."

On the issue of personnel, Spain will have a different look on Sunday but what is significant is the rebirth of midfielder Gaizka Mendietta after a miserable year at Lazio and the inevitability that, given the injury to Diego Tristan, Real Madrid's Fernando Morientes will start up front with Raul on Sunday.

McCarthy is an admirer of Raul. "I had him as my player of the year two years ago. He's up there with Rivaldo," the Republic of Ireland manager said.

"But we are here to have a go, I don't think Spain will relish the prospect of playing us. They will look at us and think they have a tough game ahead but they will also feel they can beat us."

McCarthy's sentiments found a predictable echo in the brief comments of Spanish manager Jose Camacho.

"Now it will be sudden death and Spain will play to win. Ireland didn't lose any games in their group and they are a very compact team. It will be a very good game for both of us," he said.

After a late night on Tuesday and yesterday's hop from one host nation to another the Irish players enjoyed a day off yesterday wandering in the afternoon through the large underground bazaar beneath their hotel.

They resume training this afternoon and have reported a number of knocks and bruises but no serious injury worries.

The only mildly unhappy note from Tuesday night's victory was struck by Robbie Keane, who had the misfortune to have his name drawn for drug testing for the second game in a row. Kevin Kilbane was the other player to undergo the process on Tuesday.

The names of four players from each side are drawn at half-time. Two from each side will be tested, with the others acting as substitutes in the event of one of the drawn players being taken to hospital during the second half.

The Irish team has two doctors with it and one, Dr Martin Walsh, remains with the team throughout the game while the other, Dr Conal Hooper of UCD, attends the half- time drawing of names and leaves the sideline with 15 minutes to go establish the names drawn and to be ready to help inform the players as they come off.

Dr Hooper then accompanies the players through every step of the process.