By From just a pure sports perspective I have to say congratulations to the North Korean soccer players who made their first World Cup since 1966:
North Korea qualified for their first World Cup finals since 1966 after holding Saudi Arabia to a 0-0 draw on Wednesday.
The visitors finished the game with 10 men and defending against a wave of attacks but held firm to join South Korea, Australia and Japan as Asia’s four automatic qualifiers for South Africa 2010.
North Korea finished runners-up to South Korea in Group Two while Australia and Japan went through from Group One.
Third-placed Saudi Arabia, bidding for their fifth successive appearance in the finals, advanced to the Asian playoffs with Bahrain, third in Group One.
The two teams meet over two legs in September with the winners progressing to a home and away playoff against Oceania winners New Zealand in October and November for a place in South Africa. [tiscali]
North Korea only made the World Cup in 1966 and they advanced to the quarterfinals that year. Their World Cup run in 1966 was actually made into a movie The Game of Their Lives.
It is the sad reality. No mistake...
12:10 am on June 19th, 2009 1
I'm just hope that if they win and go out and celebrate, they will not be greeted by prison camp like last time.
9:10 am on June 19th, 2009 2
However, their style of play is horrendous. It would ruin football if all of the teams played like that.
11:52 am on June 11th, 2010 3
They gave everyone a run for their money last time around… I don't see them getting into the final but who knows!