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N.Korea fans in Japan devastated over World Cup exit
N.Korea fans in Japan devastated over World Cup exit
A North Korean girl reacts during a public viewing by North Korean residents in Japan for the FIFA World Cup in South Africa at a North Korean school in Japan. Ethnic Koreans in Japan cried over North Korea's early exit from the World Cup on Monday, but said they were grateful for the rare chance to unite and see the team in its first finals in 44 years. (AFP/Yoshikazu Tsuno)
TOKYO (AFP) – Ethnic Koreans in Japan cried over North Korea’s early exit from the World Cup on Monday, but said they were grateful for the rare chance to unite and see the team in its first finals in 44 years. North Korea, who lost to Brazil last week in their opening game in South Africa, were crushed 7-0 by a merciless Portugal, meaning they cannot reach the knockout round.
Some 500 pro-Pyongyang Koreans supported their team at a school in Tokyo, donning symbolic red T-shirts and waving North Korean flags. They cheered especially loudly when the screen showed J-League striker Jong Tae-Se — “Asia’s Wayne Rooney” — as well as two other Japan-born Korean players, midfielders Ahn Yong-Hak and Ryang Yong-Gi. “Cho-sen (Korea) are playing in such a huge game after 44 years, and my son is playing in the team,” Ahn’s mother Jong Mal-Rye, 62, said before the game. “Nothing is more delighting than this.”
“Win, win, Cho-sen!” fans shouted in unity at the school’s steaming hot gymnasium, where they set up food booths selling Korean pickles. But as the goals piled up, anticipation turned to misery. “I regret it,” Mun Sun-Ryong, 26, said after witnessing the rout. “But I have to say the fact that we, Koreans, got together like this means a lot. This is our real power. Not many ethnic groups in Japan can do the same.” Japan, which occupied the Korean peninsula until the end of World War II, is home to nearly one million ethnic Koreans, many of them children of former forced labourers.
Up to 100,000 of them are believed to be loyal to Pyongyang. “I realised how great Koreans are just because so many got together here for this,” Lee Nami, an 18-year-old university student, said. “I regret the result of today’s game, but the Koreans can unite like this when the chance comes.” Ethnic Koreans in Japan, divided into the pro-North and pro-South, often have complex backgrounds. Striker Jong, who broke down in tears during his side’s national anthem before the Brazil game, holds South Korean nationality.
But he managed to obtain a North Korean passport after attending patriotic pro-Pyongyang schools in Japan at the urging of his ethnic Korean mother, who is loyal to the North. It was the communist nation’s first World Cup since 1966 in England, when they upset the mighty Italy to reach the quarter-finals. Ri Jon-Su, 25, who was selling red T-shirts bearing “1966 Again”, said before the game: “I want the team to play as aggressively as it did in 1966.”
Katlego Mphela picks up the ball to restart the game as quickly as possible.
Nick of time: hero of the opening night Siphiwe Tshabalaba nicks the ball from Bacary Sagna's toe.
Bernard's watched: as South Africa try to find another goal, Bernard Parker has an effort from distance.
Hanging on: Djibril Cisse watches on as Moeneeb Josephs makes an incredible save.
Dream over: Florent Malouda taps into an empty net to stop any hope of a late South Africa rally.
One for the Irish: insert your own Thierry Henry handball joke here - not that he'll be laughing,
as his side are going out of the World Cup in demoralising fashion
Battle: it's a war between Mexico and Uruguay, as the cut to Diego Perez testifies.
Golden goal: Luis Suarez nods into the net to put Uruguay the lead, and possibly the acclaim of group winners with it.
Nearly there: ... and the celebrations from the Uruguayans seem to confirm that their place in the last 16 is well and truly booked.
Spare the rod: Mexico defender Francisco Rodriguez gets stuck into goalscorer Luis Suarez.
Easy does it: defender Jorge Fucile (l) blocks a shot from Giovani Dos Santos as Mexico try to salvage top spot in Group A.
Feisty encounter: Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai gets involved,
but both sides will happily shake his hand at the full-time whistle with qualification secured.
Argentina head coach Diego Maradona looks on as Argentina's Clemente Rodriguez takes a throw in
Lionel Messi of Argentina is challenged by Sokratis Papastrathopoulos of Greece
Argentina's striker Lionel Messi is challenged for the ball by Greece's midfielder Giorgos Karagounis (left) and Greece's defender Socrates Papastathopoulos
Argentina's Demichelis celebrates after his strike gives Argentina gthe lead against Greece
Three lions: the midfield trio of Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Gareth Barry celebrate England's progress.
Look away now: Slovenia's push for a goal gives England nervy moments,
but both John Terry and Glen Johnson are up to the challenge of blocking Zlatko Dedic's effort.
Heroic: it's backs-to-the-wall time as Glen Johnson charges down a shot.
All alone: Wayne Rooney finds himself alone in the penalty area but his one-on-one opportunity is stopped by a superb save from Handanovic.
Off the post: the ball is agonisingly tipped onto the post.
