Portugal-North Korea

Prior to the World Cup, the North Korean government decided not to allow live broadcasts of any games in their country. I don't know why.

However, after their team's impressive near-not-loss against the Brazilians in their opening match, the leaders at whatever Soviet-style bureau decides these things allowed their second match to go on the air live.

I had found a ticket to the match because I met a guy from London (who's from Mozambique and subsequently Portugal) at my hostel who had an extra ticket he sold me at face value. We were soon fast friends.

My expectations for the game were tempered, as the first one I went to (England-Algeria) was so unsatisfying.

But I was wrong to have worried about boredom, and the North Korean officials were wrong to have chosen this game for their first national broadcast.

I am never for censorship, but it might have been prudent in this case, because North Korea received a near-historic level of shameful defeat at the hands of Portugal.

7-0.

Shame.

It was great fun to watch, and being there with Portuguese fans, it was a party in the stands. Although the goals came so fast at one point that I missed two when I went for beer in the second half. The Chinese fans cheering for North Korea seemed less thrilled about the whole ordeal, but I guess having been paid to be there, it would have been impolite to act otherwise.