It ended up a 7-0 humiliating loss Monday that crushed the team's World Cup dreams as North Koreans watched back home — perhaps having the opposite effect intended by a leadership seeking to rally solidarity in the impoverished nation by showing the match live.
"The Portuguese won the game and now have four points. We are ending our live broadcast now," a Korean Central Broadcasting commentator said, quickly cutting to footage of factory workers and engineers praising North Korean leader Kim Jong Il.
Dejected and dispirited, the North Korean team left Green Point Stadium as fast as they could, shuffling past reporters with their heads bowed. One player, seeing a familiar face, grimaced as though in pain but shook the friend's hand as he walked silently past.
Star forward Jong Tae Se, who dropped to his knees in dejection as the game ended, said after the game he was upset they had made so many errors, and apologized to his nation for failing to fulfill their World Cup hopes and not being able to avenge the loss to Portugal in the 1966 quarterfinals.
It was the first time in four decades that North Korea has qualified for the World Cup, a rare point of pride for a nation increasingly at odds with the outside world.
North Korea's players were feted as heroes when they returned home last year after qualifying for the World Cup, and the pressure on them to perform on the biggest international stage was immense.
Chile beats Switzerland
PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa — Chile broke through the formerly impenetrable Swiss defense, and Mark Gonzalez's goal might be enough to get the South Americans into the second round.
Gonzalez scored on a header in the 75th minute as Chile beat 10-man Switzerland 1-0 to move closer to a spot in the final 16.
Before Chile scored, Switzerland set a World Cup record in the 69th minute by going 551 minutes without allowing a goal, breaking the mark of 550 held by Italy at the 1986 and 1990 tournaments. Chile has won both its games in Group H.
Switzerland played a man down since the 31st minute when midfielder Valone Behrami was sent off with a red card for rough play against Arturo Vidal.
U.S. optimism
IRENE, South Africa — Landon Donovan thinks the best is yet to come for the U.S. soccer team.
Yes, 2006 was a disappointment and even the quarterfinal finish in 2002 wasn't completely satisfying.
"The two World Cups I'd been a part of, we hadn't strung together three consecutive good results and good performances," he said. "I think this team has the experience and the ability to do that, and we'll find out on Wednesday."
By beating Algeria, the Americans would advance from the group phase for the first time in eight years. Even with a draw against the Desert Foxes, the U.S. could advance as long as England fails to beat Slovenia and doesn't gain a point and wipe out the American advantage in goals scored.
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