-Portugal slams magnificent seven past hapless North Korea
JOHANNESBURG, (Reuters) – Portugal thrashed North Korea 7-0 yesterday in the World Cup’s highest score so far, restoring some bruised pride for Europe’s stuttering soccer powers and dashing the Asians’ chances of progress.
Chile kept up Latin America’s fantastic run at the tournament, squeezing one goal past Switzerland’s stingy defence, while off the field a rebellion in the French camp remained the tournament’s main talking point.
Little-known North Korea were back at a World Cup for the first time since they stunned the world in England 44 years ago.
But there was no repeat of that fairy-tale run when they took a three-goal lead against Portugal in the 1966 quarter-finals before Eusebio scored four to inspire a 5-3 comeback for the Europeans in one of the all-time great games.
Portugal’s modern generation made an easier job of it. Watched by Eusebio in Cape Town, they pierced the Koreans’ much-vaunted defence with ease time-and-time again.
Man of the match Cristiano Ronaldo notched the sixth goal, his first for Portugal in a competitive match in two years, in a rout that left North Korea on zero points after two games and unable to qualify for the second round despite having a match left.
Portugual’s beaming coach Carlos Queiroz praised his team for “the wonderful way in which they played, their great attitude, reverence for the game, the beautiful football, the beautiful goals.”
QUAKE VICTIMS ENJOY
CHILE’S TRIUMPH
Despite having Valon Behrami sent off, Switzerland still managed to break Italy’s World Cup record of 550 minutes without conceding a goal in Monday’s second game.
But their defence was breached in the second half during a wave of fluent Chilean attacks. A header by the South Americans’ second half substitute Mark Gonzalez with 15 minutes to go won the game 1-0 and kept Chile on top of Group H with six points.
President Sebastian Pinera, an ardent soccer fan, watched the match from the ravaged city of Constitucion with survivors of a massive Feb. 27 earthquake. “The World Cup is for everyone and we wanted to share,” he said from the quake-zone.
SPAIN SEEK TURNAROUND
V HONDURAS
As well as France, Italy and England are also licking their wounds after a fairly shocking World Cup so far for Europe’s traditional powers.
English vice-captain Frank Lampard denied reports the team had confronted coach Fabio Capello in crisis talks, but clearly all is not well after two dire performances brought two draws for the nation that invented soccer.
The English need to reproduce their domestic league form, Lampard said. “We play in the best league in the world, the Premier League, and we have to play with that pace and passion that we have every week at home,” he said.
Spain hope to turn the tide for Europe’s struggling soccer aristocrats and justify their pre-tournament favourites’ status against Honduras on Monday night.
Spain, who looked shadows of their best in a 1-0 defeat by Switzerland in their first match, play what should be an easy game — if they can regain their touch.
Honduras have three brothers in a World Cup squad for the first time. The presence of Jerry, Wilson and Jhony Palacios has an emotional edge because the body of their kidnapped fourth brother, Edwin, was discovered a little over a year ago.
