North Korea player to join Swiss 2nd tier club Wil

GENEVA (AP) — North Korea defender Cha Jong Hyok is to join Swiss second division club FC Wil as a first step to a career in Europe's bigger leagues, according to his agent.
The 24-year-old defender played in all three of his country's World Cup group matches in South Africa and took several long shots on goal in games against Portugal and Brazil.

His agent Karl Messerli told The Associated Press that Cha, who will be leaving North Korean state-owned club Amrokgang, will become the third North Korean to transfer to Switzerland in the past year.

"We have the work permit and he will arrive in two weeks," Messerli said.

"The aim is to prepare this player for the European leagues. Of course he won't play all his life in Wil. We want to test him, let him play, and prepare him for higher tasks."

Messerli said there will be no upfront transfer fee, but Amrokgang will be paid on results if Cha proves himself or is sold to a bigger team.

Wil already has 21-year-old North Korean midfielder Kim Kuk Jin, who joined the club last year.

A third player whom Messerli declined to name returned to North Korea from Switzerland because of homesickness, the agent said.

Messerli said an English and a German club had expressed an interest in two more players from North Korea's national squad, which exited the World Cup after a group stage that included a 7-0 drubbing by Portugal.

USA Today

North Korea - CIV 0-3

elspruit: The Curtain came down on DPR Korea’s 2010 FIFA World Cup campaign on Friday with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Cote d’Ivoire, consigning the Chollima to a hat-trick of Group G loses.

The North Koreans’ chances of advancing from the group stage ended with a 7-0 drubbing by Portugal leaving Sven-Goran Eriksson’s side chasing down a seemingly impossible nine goals to nudge the Portuguese out of the last 16.

However, any margin over victory wouldn't have made a difference in the end as Portugal drew 0-0 with Brazil to finish a point ahead of the 'Elephants'.

Cote d’Ivoire joined hosts South Africa, Cameroon, Nigeria and Algeria as first-round casualties with only Ghana carrying on the African cause in the knockout round.

Barcelona playmaker Yaya Toure struck first in the 14th minute, drilling home from outside the area off a cut-back from Kader Keita.

The Elephants went two-up on 20 minutes after Chelsea superstar Didier Drogba rattled the crossbar with a fierce volley and left midfielder Romaric with an easy header into an unguarded net.

Drogba’s Chelsea team-mate Salomon Kalou, a second-half substitute, found the net in the 82nd minute, tucking away a high ball from defender Arthur Boka.

Cote d’Ivoire were looking for a mammoth win over the North Koreans and relying on group leaders Brazil to beat the Portuguese in Durban for them to have an outside prospect of reaching the knockout round.

Drogba, in imperious form, headed the ball into the net in the 12th minute but was ruled offside as Ivory Coast bombarded the North Korean goal.

The Ivorians' play fell away in the second half as the Kim Jong-hun’s side tightened their five-man defence, screened by three midfielders.

Eriksson made a double substitution in the 64th minute bringing on Kalou for Keita and Aruna Dindane for Gervinho as he juggled his attack to prise more goals and Kalou dutifully answered the Swedish coach's call.

North Korea's Japanese-based striker Jong Tae-se didn't look out of place with the skilful Ivorians and he tested their defence with speed and close control several times.

Jong had a great chance in the 81st minute and only a diving block from Manchester City defender Kolo Toure - brother of Yaya - stopped him from scoring.

The match was played in good spirit with Spanish referee Alberto Undiano not once brandishing the yellow card.

afc.com

North Korea - Ivory Coast

North Korea play Ivory Coast (CIV) today.

Match time : 16.00 local time

Portugal - North Korea preview

Portugal - North Korea play today. 13.30 local time.

Preview from goal.com : link

North Korea deny players are missing

North Korea deny players are missing and the absence of four stars from the official FIFA team sheet was a "clerical error"

goal.com

North Korean Fans in South Africa

Reports from the media all over world about no North Koreans fans going to South Africa and that North Korea has "hired" chinese fans is not correct !

They were at least 50 North Korean supporters from North Korea at the Brazil match

LA Times

AFC.com

North Korea - Brazil 1-2

Match report from afc.com : link

Courageous Koreans emerge with confidence : link

AFC President proud of DPR Korea : link

DPRK fans optimistic despite defeat : link

At the scene : from zeroes to heroes : link afc.com

Next match is against Portugal on 21. June