Coach Kim expects warm welcome upon return home

Posted Friday, June 25, 2010 by PA

North Korea coach Kim Jong-hun claims his players will be welcomed back home this weekend "with open arms".

Attitudes towards the World Cup and the national team inside dictator Kim Jong-il's isolationist state have been a matter of intrigue throughout the tournament.

It was reported that North Korea's last match, their 7-0 thrashing by Portugal on Monday, was to be given a rare live broadcast in the country.

However, as the Cape Town thrashing condemned the North Koreans to an early exit from the South African tournament, it is claimed state-run media have not mentioned it since.

Information from the country is limited but coach Kim has told the outside world his players are well respected.

Kim said: "As we cannot go to the next round my staff and players did not meet the expectations of our countrymen.

"Nevertheless our people, even though we didn't play too well, will welcome us with open arms.

"If we had got better results I am sure it would have been better for everyone but for the young children in North Korea who are football fans, I think they will be more motivated and more interested in football."

Sven-Goran Eriksson admits Ivory Coast must overturn near impossible odds to reach the second round.

The Ivorians not only need to win and hope Brazil beat Portugal at the same time, but they need to see a nine-goal swing in the process.

Former England boss Eriksson said: "It is a strange situation in the group.

"I think we have played good football but we are in a situation which is extremely difficult.

"You can't really go and tell your players to go and score eight or nine goals because that is not realistic.

"We are going to try to do our best but that amount of goals is very unlikely."