Final Score - WC2010 Group G, North Korea vs Cote d'Ivoire

Friday 25th June 2010 - Mbombela Stadium, Nelsruit - Att. 34,763
Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain)

LINEUPS:
North Korea (451): RM Guk, NS Choi, Nam, Jin, RJ Il (AC Hyok 80'), Chon (Kim Kyong Il 61'), Jo, Hak, Se, PN Choi, MI Guk (PS Hyok 9')

Cote d'Ivoire (433): Barry, Demel, Tiene, K Toure, Zokora, Y Toure, Eboue (Romaric 66'), Tiote, Drogba (Boka 89'), Gervinho, Dindane (Keita 75')

This match almost started in explosive fashion when  Pak Nam Choi attempted an audacious lob straight at the kickoff that was only just wide. The one change for this match was Nam Song Choi starting in defence for the injured Cha Jong Hyok but they had another injury concern inside the opening ten minutes; Mun In Guk forced to leave on a stretcher. With the Ivory Coast unable to find a way through it was North Korea who had the next shot on goal with An Yong Hak skillfully carving a path through the defence before substitute Pak Sung Hyok shot straight down the goalie's throat.

The second half began with a frustrated Drogba earning a yellow card but just not long afterwards Cote d'Ivoire took the lead through Gervinho. Guy Demel was allowed to manoeuvre out from his own half and deep into the North Korean's before finding Dindane with a great feed. His shot was saved from ten yeards out but Gervinho followed up for the goal.

After the goal the leading team grew in confidence with chances for Yaya Toure and Gervinho saved by Ri Myong Guk. A late chance for North Korea would have given them a chance of an historic win but Boubacar Barry was equal to the challenge posed by Kim Kyong Il's long range shot.

North Korea 0 - 1 Cote d'Ivoire
Goalscorers:
CIV Gervinho 51'

Discipline:
CIV Drogba 46'
CIV Dindane 57'

Man of the Match:
CIV Gervinho

GROUP G
Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Brazil	3	2	0	1	3	1	+2	6
Portugal	3	1	2	0	1	0	+1	5
Cote d'Ivoire	3	1	1	1	1	1	0	4
North Korea	3	0	1	2	0	3	-3	1

Final Score - WC2010 Group G, Portugal vs Brazil

Firday 25th June 2010 - Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban - Att. 62,712
Referee: Benito Archundia (Mexico)

LINEUPS:
Portugal (433): Eduardo, Costa, Coentrao, Carvalho, B Alves, Mendes, Tiago, Meireles (Miguel 80'), Ronaldo (Amorim 78'), Almeida, Danny (Veloso 62')
Brazil (451): Cesar, Maicon, Bastos, Lucio, Juan, Silva (Josue 45'), Melo, D Alves (Kleberson 72'), Fabiano, Kaka, Robinho (Grafite 76')

Portugal had their backs to the wall in the opening fifteen minutes, bravely blocking shots from Robinho and Fabiano before the latter put another chance over the bar. After this chance Eduardo's goal kick started things moving the other way, with Costa riding his luck on a heavily deflected pass that went behind for a corner. On the set piece Meireles's header was blocked but Hugo Almeida, who started the match in place of the suspended Simao, roofed the loose ball.

The first half continued with Portugal getting in the way of Brazilian chances, including a third effort from Fabiano that deflected behind. When the South Americans did have a clear look at goal Kaka headed wide. At halftime Brazil took off Gilberto Silva after he had picked up a knock and his replacement Josue started the first real attack ten minutes into the second period when he first intercepted a pass and then crossed for Kaka to shoot at the keeper without power.

Portugal's chance to double their lead came in the 67th minute when Meireles found Almeida in a prime spot but his effort proved to be an easy save for Cesar. From then on the game lost the rest of it's gusto and the teams played out the 1-0 win for Portugal to put both sides through to the second round.

Portugal 1 - 0 Brazil
Goalscorers:
POR Almeida 17'

Discipline:
BRA Melo 2'
POR Danny 13'

Man of the Match:
POR Tiago / BRA Maicon

GROUP G
Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Brazil	3	2	0	1	3	1	+2	6
Portugal	3	1	2	0	1	0	+1	5
Cote d'Ivoire	2	0	1	1	0	1	-1	1
North Korea	2	0	1	1	0	2	-2	1

Final Score - WC2010 Group G, Portugal vs North Korea

Monday 21st June 2010 - Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town - Att. 63,644
Referee: Pablo Pozo (Chile)

LINEUPS:
Portugal (433): Eduardo, Costa, Coentrao, Carvalho, Alves (Pepe 60'), Mendes, Tiago (Liedson 80'), Meireles, Ronaldo, Simao, Danny (Almeida 57')
North Korea (451): RM Guk, CJ Hyok (NS Choi 45'), Nam, Jin, RJ Il, Chon, Jo (Myong 65'), Hak, Se, PN Choi (Kim K Il 84'), MA Guk

The effort put in by a very lackluster Portuguese team was not going to break down this highly determined North Korean side and in fact could have even lost the game. Portugal controlled a lot of game but their constant passing without penetration led to few real goalscoring chances, and it wasn't until stoppage time in the first half that Ri Myong Guk was truly tested when he stopped a good header from Alves.

Guk would again keep the game scoreless when, at full stretch, he prevented Jo from scoring on the breakaway. Prior to this the North Koreans had some shots of their own. Pak Nam Choi felt ambitious and tried his luck from thirty yards, sending it well wide, but their golden chance came to Jong Tae Se who was completely unmarked in the penalty area; his shot saved very smartly by Edurado.

Portugal 0 - 0 North Korea
Goalscorers:
None

Discipline:
POR Simao 18' (sus)
PRK Jo 48'
POR Ronaldo 74'
POR Costa 84'
POR Pepe 90'

Man of the Match:
PKR Ri Jun Il

GROUP G
Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Brazil	2	2	0	0	3	0	+3	4
Portugal	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	2
Cote d'Ivoire	2	0	1	1	0	1	-1	1
North Korea	2	0	1	1	0	2	-2	1

Final Score - WC2010 Group G, Brazil vs Cote d'Ivoire

Sunday 20th June 2010 - Soccer City, Johannesburg - Att. 84,455
Referee: Stéphane Lannoy (France)

LINEUPS:
Brazil (451): Cesar, Maicon, Bastos, Lucio (Luisao 70'), Juan, G. Silva, Melo, Alves, Fabiano, Kaka, Robinho (Ramires 70')
Cote d'Ivoire (433): Barry, Demel, Tiene, K. Toure, Zokora, Y. Toure, Eboue (Kone 76'), Tiote, Drogba (Doumbia 61'), Gervinho, Dindane

The tenth day of competition ended with this exciting contest that could have ended any which way. The Ivory Coast had their first chance cleared in the goalmouth, Gervinho unable to chip the ball in after Tiote put him through one-on-one, and Kaka shot his early effort into the side netting. Fabiano ripped one an inch over the bar with Barry rooted to the ground, and Tiote had his own chance alone against Cesar thanks to an inspired through ball by Emmanuel Eboue but his effort was saved by the legs of the Brazilian keeper.

The teams continued to exchange chances with Gervinho having chance either side of half time. His initial effort deflected for the first in a series of Cote d'Ivoire corners and his second missed by a mile. At the other end Fabiano wasted his shot when he had some space in the area, but he made up for it by putting the perfect ball into the box for Kaka to run onto and side foot under the goalie. After that Brazil bossed the game and refused to concede possession, effectively killing the game.

Brazil 1 - 0 Cote d'Ivoire
Goalscorers:
BRA Kaka 64'

Discipline:
CIV Tiene 9'
CIV Y. Toure 48'

Man of the Match:
BRA Maicon

GROUP G
Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Brazil	2	2	0	0	3	0	+3	4
Portugal	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	1
Cote d'Ivoire	2	0	1	1	0	1	-1	1
North Korea	1	0	0	1	0	2	-2	0

Final Score - WC2010 Group G, Brazil vs North Korea

Tuesday 15th June 2010 - Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg. Att: 54,331
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)

LINEUPS:
Brazil (451): Cesar, Malcon, Bastos, Lucio, Juan, G Silva, Melo, Alves (Ramirez 74'), Fabiano, Kaka (Nilmar 60'), Robinho (T Silva 88')
North Korea (451): RM Guk, CJ Hyok, Nam, Jin (PN Chol), RJ Il, Chon, Jo, Hak (Jun 60'), Se (PS Hyok 60'), PN Chol, MI Guk

An understandably one-sided match but North Korea were hard working and dedicated to their defensive game plan. The Brazilians were not very threatening in the early going which made the Koreans job that much easier, but the first real chance fell to the Kings of Samba in the 24th minute when a corner was played short, then across the goalmouth finding Fabiano to break the deadlock.

Brazil had returned to just passing the ball around but their halftime team talk obviously struck a chord with the players as they came out looking for goals. Ri Myong Guk was rather busy in net after the break stopping shots from Robinho and Juan early on before Nilmar hit Melo's looping cross onto the post. With time running down Brazil finally added a second goal when Silva was able to cut inside and beat the goalie at his near post.

Brazil 2 - 0 North Korea
Goalscorers:
BRA Fabiano 24'
BRA Silva 87'

Discipline:
PRK CJ Hyok 23'

Man of the Match:
BRA Fabiano

GROUP G
Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Brazil	1	1	0	0	2	0	+2	3
Cote d'Ivoire	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	1
Portugal	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	1
North Korea	1	0	0	1	0	2	-2	0