Over one billion individuals all over the world watched Spain lift the 2010 World Cup in South Africa as Vincente del Bosque’s side defeated the Netherlands in extra-time, courtesy of an Andres Iniesta goal. Nonetheless, the result is different for anyone living in North Korea. Right up until now, the dubious country believes that it was Portugal that lifted the World Cup that night in Johannesburg.
The humorous story behind why this is the case came from Alvaro Leite, a flight attendant with TAP Portugal who visited North Korea in 2017. “Throughout our visit to Pyongyang, we had the company of a guide who spoke English,” Leite told Marca.
LOL. The game between Portugal and North Korea got cut short in North Korea’s tv broadcast to avoid further humiliation. HAHA
— zachmok (@zachmok) June 22, 2010
The guide told them that Cristiano Ronaldo is a genuine icon for some individuals, and soccer has an exceptionally high significance and prevalence throughout the nation. It was then that the thought shaped in the country that Portugal had won; they were 4-0 facing North Korea when, out of shame, the government regime system cut the broadcast of the match.
After the 60th minute, when Tiago scored, the scoreline was 4-0, and the regime took the decision to avoid any further embarrassment, so no one in the country saw the other three goals of Portugal’s 7-0 win. North Korea used the humiliating loss to hoist Portugal’s status, portraying the 4-0 loss as ‘OK’ because of the astonishing ability of their adversaries.
#OldDays 21/06/2010 v North Korea ⚽️
Cristiano scored his only 2010 World Cup goal vs North Korea.
What a strange and wonderful goal.😂😂
Portugal delivered an incredible performance – demolishing North Korea & grabbing the highest winning margin of the 2⃣0⃣1⃣0⃣ FIFA World Cup. pic.twitter.com/WDodRvs2G8— Kashii Alli (@KashiiAlliCr17) June 22, 2021
In turn, the North Koreans believed that although Portugal thrashed them, at least they could take some pride in it as Portugal eventually went on to win the World Cup, led by Cristiano Ronaldo. Because of limited TV broadcasting after the game, nobody in the nation really saw Spain take out Portugal in the round of 16 of the World Cup and later in the final, winning the trophy led by Iker Casillas.
The devastating outcome of North Korea’s disappointing 2010 FIFA World Cup campaign
North Korea is perhaps one of the most oppressive regimes on the planet. The government didn’t telecast the soccer team’s first and perhaps most memorable game in the 2010 FIFA World Cup because of a paranoid fear of shame. As a turn of events, the group set up a surprisingly decent show against Brazil, barely losing 2-1.
The regime raised trust after the match and broadcast the second game against Portugal in the country. The team lost 7-0. And afterward, they lost once more, 3-0, in their last game against the Ivory Coast.
During 2010 World Cup football I and few Asian friends were watching a match played by North Korea.
Most North Korean players cried at start of the game when National Anthem played.
I was told-more than Nationalism it was fear-they are sent to work at Coal Mine if performed badly— Amarjyoti Borah (@AmarjyotiBorah1) August 18, 2021
According to reports from Radio Free Asia and the South Korean media, the team and manager were forced onto a stage at the People’s Palace of Culture in front of 400 government officials, students, and journalists. According to the Guardian, the athletes were subjected to a six-hour barrage of criticism for their poor performances that was led by a TV commentator, Ri Dong-kyu, and sports minister, Pak Myong-Chol.
The regime asked the players to step up in turn and publicly criticize manager Kim Jong-hun, whom the government apparently singled out for punishment. The authorities forced him into a construction job because they believed, his team’s failure was a personal betrayal to the dictator Kim Jong-un.