All in the Game

A World Cup miscellany

That's live TV: North Korea see all seven

NO prizes for guessing what was front page news in every newspaper in Portugal yesterday, with the 7-0 drubbing of the poor North Koreans celebrated as evidence the European side can go all the way to Sunday, July 11th, in Soccer City.

And you wouldn't need any grasp of Portuguese to understand the main headline on the Jornal de Notícias, the Porto daily – with the paper cleverly including seven players in the photograph.

As ever, the story was a little different in North Korea.

Apparently encouraged by the showing against Brazil, the clash with Portugal was the first time national television in North Korea showed the country’s soccer team playing live overseas.

We’re pretty sure the person who came up with that idea has called in sick this morning.

The Korean Central Broadcasting organisation reportedly ended its coverage immediately after the final whistle in Cape Town, quickly cutting to the more trustworthy footage of factory workers and engineers praising leader Kim Jong Il.

The Chosun Sinbo, a Japan-based pro-Pyongyang publication with close ties to the North’s leaders, reported that North Koreans watching the game were at a loss for words as their team crumbled before their eyes.

South Korean newspapers – such as Seoul's JoongAng Ilbo– couldn't resist the temptation to put their neighbours' woes on the front page, though.

World Cup Legends: Whatever Happened To . . .

JULIO CÉSAR ROMERO

VICTORY against New Zealand tomorrow would put Paraguay not only into the second round, but, as group leaders, would mean a far more favourable second round draw (probably facing Denmark or Japan, with perhaps Italy left to take on the Netherlands).

How they could do with “Romerito” commanding their midfield.

The only Paraguayan named by Pelé in his top 125 greatest living footballers a few years ago, Romerito claimed the Copa América with Paraguay in 1979, while still a teenager. He joined the New York Cosmos the following year, playing alongside such stars as Franz Beckenbauer.

However, surely the highlight of his career was winning South American Footballer of the Year in 1985 with Brazil’s Fluminense.

Once retired, Romerito used his popularity to work as a politician in his native city of Luque.

But perhaps his most famous off-field moment came a few years ago, when he made his debut as a rock singer in front of 40,000 music fans at the “Pilsen Rock” festival.

It’s worth having a look at www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofoI7dAqtjQ. Naturally, he’s the one with the football.

“We are dealing with what we always deal with during this time. – South African president Jacob Zuma claims union threats are nothing to do with the World Cup, but are just because it’s “strike season”.

Sent Off: The record

1974 - 5

1978 - 3

1982 - 5

1986 - 8

1990 - 16

1994 - 15

1998 - 22

2002 -17

2006 - 28

2010 -11 (So far)