JOHANNESBURG // Ivory Coast's early exit from the competition maybe all but a formality going into their final Group G game with North Korea, but their players are determined to leave with a bang. For the Africans to have a chance of progressing to the second round they must overcome the Koreans by a huge margin and hope that Brazil defeat Portugal. Their backs are against the wall after the Portuguese routed the North Koreans 7-0 on Monday, and Arthur Boka acknowledged it would take something sensational for the team to still be in the tournament after today's game.
"If we remain in, it will be a great miracle," said the defender. "If Portugal can beat them 7-0 why can't we do the same? "For us what is more important is to exit this tournament with our heads held high," he added. Their opponents may already be eliminated, but the Ivory Coast have been warned that they will face a tough game. Kim Jong-hun, the North Korean coach, warned that his side would be battling for every inch in Nelspruit as they look to regain some honour after the Portuguese hammering, which came after they had impressed in only losing 2-1 to Brazil in their opening game of the tournament.
"The result of the game will determine whether they will go on to the last 16 so Ivory Coast will probably be extremely aggressive," the Korean coach told a news conference. "Ivory Coast are a bigger side than us and they are probably going to be physical but we will resist strongly and it won't affect us that much. "We will put up a fight against Ivory Coast. It's a chance for us to avenge ourselves and restore our honour." * Reuters
Brazil (6 points, +3 goal difference) Already qualified. Portugal (4 points, + 7 goal difference) Draw with Brazil will be enough. Ivory Coast (1 point, -2 goal difference) Need a huge win over North Korea and a Portugal loss. North Korea (0 points, -8 goal difference) Already eliminated.