Highlights - Brazil 2-1 North Korea
North Korea coach Kim Jong-Hun is confident his team will do well in their remaining Group G games despite losing 2-1 to Brazil in Johannesburg.
The Koreans proved more than capable opponents for a Brazilian side who secured victory courtesy of second-half strikes from Maicon and Elano. Ji Yun-nam scored a consolation goal to boost the side ahead of difficult games against Portugal and Ivory Coast.
Kim Jong-Hun said: "My players fought well. We'll do well in the next games." Brazil were expected to comfortably beat North Korea, a team 105th in the Fifa world rankings. But the five-time World Cup winners endured a difficult first half as the Asian side - making their first World Cup appearance in 44 years - proved resilient in defence and skilful on the counter-attack.
 North Korea were making their first appearance at a World Cup since 1966 |
A magical strike from Maicon in the 55th minute gave Brazil the lead and Elano soon doubled the score thanks to a defence-splitting pass from the lively Robinho. But with two minutes remaining, Ji Yun-nam scored a deserved goal as a team of previously unknown players announced themselves to the world.
"The Brazilian team is very strong," added Kim Jong Hun. "For the first half our players really carried out our plan for the Brazilian team. "When they were attacking from the sides or the wings, or at individual players, we managed to fend them off.
"We were very well prepared to fight against any of their tactics and when we intercepted the ball we passed very quickly. "In the second half Brazil were more on the attack but we tried to find a goal opportunity. I thought we fought quite bravely."
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