By I didn’t get a chance to see the game since I was at work when it was played, but it appears that the North Koreans played the Brazilians tough until the 2nd half:
North Korea’s coach praised his team for playing “bravely” in its opening 2-1 loss to Brazil at the World Cup, yet forward Jong Tae Se was crushed at failing to score.
After a scoreless first half, Brazil broke through a solid North Korean defence in the second on Tuesday, with Maicon and Elano both finding the net. North Korea’s Ji Yun Nam scored his team’s lone goal in the 89th minute.
“We may not have won the match but our players showed very strong form and they fought bravely,” coach Kim Jong Hun said after the game. “I’m happy that we scored one goal against Brazil, and I’m very proud of my players.”
He said the first half went as planned, with North Korea mounting a firm defence and creating scoring opportunities. The match provided the players with valuable experience and confidence as they prepare for games against Portugal and Ivory Coast, Kim said.
North Korea’s official news agency reported a “seesaw battle” between Brazil and North Korea.
“The DPRK footballers created good shooting chances, not losing their confidence even after losing two goals,” the Korean Central New Agency said Wednesday. DPRK stands for the Democratic Republic of Korea, the country’s official name.
It had been unclear whether North Koreans, who have almost no access to outside media, would get to see their team play after South Korea’s SBS, which owns the broadcast rights for the entire Korean peninsula, ruled out offering the North a feed due to political tensions.
South Korea accuses the North of sinking a warship in March, killing 46 sailors. Pyongyang denies any role in the incident.
The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union has agreed with FIFA to beam live coverage to North Korea, John Barton, sport director of the Kuala Lumpur-based ABU, confirmed Tuesday. [The Canadian Press]
Win or lose I’m sure Kim Jong-il was happy considering the millions from the endorsement contract he made from the match with Brazil.
2:06 am on June 16th, 2010 1
Furthermore, the North Korean coach, Kim Jong Hun advised future world cup adversaries that if they challenged the prowess of the DPRK's team, their "capitol cities would burn a lake of fire." Also, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) was quoted as saying, "any yankee imperialist dog, puppet football teams that challenge the team of the people of the DPRK and their righteously prideful Dear Leader shall suffer the penultimate of repercussions, and you will only find out later what those are. However, by then it will be too late and your countries and peoples people (sic) shall perish from this universe and all other possible universes." Additionally, the state news organ is quoted as saying, "The Dear Leader is so badass he does not sleep, He waits."
2:08 am on June 16th, 2010 2
Oh yeah, Kim Jong Il also is quoted as saying, "Fuck Brazil." He is also known to be very ronery.
2:09 am on June 16th, 2010 3
Oh yeah, Kim Jong Il also is quoted as saying, "Fluck Bulachil." He is also known to be very ronery.
8:30 am on June 16th, 2010 4
Well, its too the gulag for the goalkeeper.
9:37 am on June 16th, 2010 5
Losses? Yuck!
10:00 am on June 16th, 2010 6
I watched the game and was impressed by the play of the north Koreans. I hate to admit it, but I found myself cheering for them. Not for what a win would have meant for their regime, but what it would have meant to the players.
11:25 am on June 16th, 2010 7
The DPRK did not lose. It is a fabrication of the lacky imperialist running dogs who say this. The DPRK has demanded an investigation. The film was tainted by the American CIA, who had advance copies. The DPRK will destroy all those running dogs who try to take away the glory and fame of Kim Jung Il and the great North Korean people.
11:30 am on June 16th, 2010 8
Yep, and they really look happy to play football even more against Brazil (who wouldn't?). Not complaining about the referee's decisions. The NK goalkeeper even clapped his hands to congratulate the Brazilian who scored the first goal.
The goal was really nice
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0T8I4IvJvso
12:11 pm on June 16th, 2010 9
There were a couple of white dudes in the audience with a sign that read "Kim Jong-il thinks I am am working".
12:34 pm on June 16th, 2010 10
#4 good catch, correction made
2:10 pm on June 16th, 2010 11
#8: here it is: http://thatfan.com/2010/06/16/world-cup-fan-sign-…
7:02 pm on June 16th, 2010 12
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23…
PERHAPS it was their identical red outfits or how their applause was directed by a "conductor" that suggested the North Koreans in the Ellis Park stadium in South Africa were no ordinary fans.
But today, the truth behind the "supporters" emerged when it was revealed that one group of North Koreans – none of whom knew each other in advance – had been hand-picked by Kim Jong-il's government, while another party were actually Chinese, "volunteered" to back their Communist cousins.
Fifa officials and millions of television viewers were surprised when rows of red-clad "North Koreans" took their seats, believing the harsh regime had allowed its citizens freedom to travel.
But one fan, Kim Yong Chon, 43, who said he was North Korean, told reporters his group of 300 had been carefully chosen by the North Korean government.
Although they sang their national anthem loudly, the group tended only to cheer when directed by a man who stood before them like an orchestra's conductor.
Meanwhile, another party of fans confirmed rumours they were Chinese, having obtained tickets through a Chinese sports PR agency, authorised to sell part of the North Korean allocation of 1,400 seats.
Dubbed the "fans volunteer army", they included dancers, musicians and other artists and said they were happy to don the North Korean national colours.
One Brazilian fan said: "I spoke with them. They had come from Beijing and knew nothing about football or the World Cup. They said they were supporting their Communist cousins and were happy to be there."
It is not only the supporters that are unconventional for the North Koreans' first World Cup for 44 years. While the Brazilian team has 500 following journalists, they have just five and have banned outside media from training sessions.
After the match, as Brazil's stars mingled with journalists, the North Korean players, including star striker Jong Tae Se, who cried during his country's national anthem, were ushered away.The team has refused to fully comply with Fifa rules over media availability and at one press conference, manager Kim Jong Hun rebuked a journalist for not using his country's full name – the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea.
Fans back in the DPRNK may not have yet even seen their team's doughty performance, allowing the Brazilians only a 2-1 victory in a match they were expected to win easily. Although the country has a deal to transmit World Cup matches, it will be shown only when their "Dear Leader" thinks fit.