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Korea DPR 0-3 Ivory Coast - Ivorians exit the World Cup on a high
 KOREA DPR 0
 IVORY COAST 3
Y Toure 14, Romaric 20, Kalou 82
Ivory Coast began the match strong favourites to follow their opponents, Korea DPR, out of the World Cup, faced with the unlikely task of reaching Portugal’s high goal-difference. However, Sven-Göran Eriksson’s team began the game with an attacking mentality and in the first minute Yaya Toure played Kader Keita in on the right-hand side of the box, but his shot was saved by Ri Myong-Guk. Didier Drogba’s header from Keita’s cross was correctly ruled out for offside before Yaya Toure received a ball on the edge of the North Korea box and curled a right-foot shot into the far corner past Ri Myong-Guk. Korea DPR had their first effort on goal six minutes later, however, Hong Yong-Jo’s free-kick from 40 yards was just wide of Boubacar Copa’s goal. The Ivorians doubled their lead on 20 minutes after Drogba’s ferociously struck volley hit the underside of the bar before Romaric headed the rebounded shot into the net. Hong Yong- Jo came close again with a curled free-kick from 20 yards which went inches wide and had the Ivory Coast keeper beaten. With more belief, the Ivorians began attacking in numbers and Gervinho hit the post with a drilled right-foot shot inside the area.
In the second half, the game was much more of a contest with Korea DPR determined to prevent another humiliating defeat. Jong Tae-Se’s effort from 25 yards forced a save from Boubacar Copa before Drogba headed just past the angle of the post and the bar. North Korea were much more resolute in defence but Ivory Coast still created chances and Drogba should have made it three, however, he glanced his header just wide. In the 80th minute, Jong Tae-Se had two excellent opportunities to score, his first effort was saved by Boubacar Copa and his second effort was blocked by Kolo Toure. The Elephants increased their lead two minutes later when Kalou got on the end of Arthur Boka’s cross from the left and Salomon Kalou volleyed in from close-range. Aruna Dindane then converted a Didier Drogba free-kick, but he was adjudged to be offside and in the end, three-goals were not enough to send the African side through to the last-16.
Despite the all-out attack approach by Ivory Coast, the draw in the other game in the group meant that the Elephants would follow their Group G opponents out of the World Cup. The players took advantage of North Korea’s nervous start, dominating possession and attacking at every opportunity. It took the third group game for the Ivorians to showcase their vast array of talent and perhaps if the draw was kinder to them, perhaps they would have followed Ghana in being another African nation in the final 16. They looked a completely different side to the one that lost 3-1 to Brazil. Their play consisted of neat, one-touch passing and early crosses which opened up the rugged North Korean defence and it was no surprise that the Ivorians opened the scoring inside 14 minutes. In the first half, the Ivory Coast players settled in the North Korean half and consequently they were a constant threat to Myong-Guk Ri’s goal. However, as the half drew to a close the Ivorians’ attacking flurry failed to create any clear-cut chances, despite having 67% of the possession and needing at least five more goals to have any chance of qualifying.
Eriksson’s side began second half as they ended the first, however, the North Koreans came out determined to avoid a second successive humiliating defeat in South Africa. They began to commit less in attack and more in defence and as a result the Ivorians found it increasingly difficult to open them up and break the resolute Koreans down. Jong Tae-Se had arguably North Korea’s best chance of the match, but it would have been merely a consolation with the way in which Ivory Coast was playing. In total, Ivory Coast had 27 attempts on goal, 12 of which were on target. Nevertheless, even if Ivory Coast managed to match the scoreline that Portugal managed on Monday, the result in the other game in the group meant that their fate was out of their hands.
Although the Ivorians ended the tournament with an impressive result, there are many questions surrounding how far the Elephants could have gone in the competition if they were in a fairer group. Today they certainly proved why they were considered the underdogs in the competition and perhaps if they were more attacking minded in the first game they might have followed Brazil in the latter stages of the competition. Drogba was the spearhead in the Ivory Coast attack and the North Korean defenders found it increasingly difficult to cope with his speed and his strength. Even his free-kicks were a threat, particularly when Dindane found himself in an offside position after he converted the Chelsea strikers’ perfect delivery. The 32-year-old did a lap of honour round the pitch at the end of the game in what might be his last World Cup appearance in his career. He and many other Ivory Coast fans will be wondering what could have been.
Korea DPR: Myong-Guk Ri - Cha Jong-Hyok, Ri Jun-Il, Ri Kwang-Chon, Pak Chol-Jin - Pak Nam-Chol, Ji Yun-Nam, Mun In-Guk (Choe Kum-Chol Choe 67), Ahn Yong-Hak - Jong Tae-Se, Hong Yong-Jo (C)
Ivory Coast: Boubacar Copa - Boka, Kolo Toure, Eboue, Zokora - Tiote, Romaric (Doumbia 79), Yaya Toure, Gervinho (Kalou 64) - Drogba (C), Keita (Dindane 64)
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