Coasting Out: North Korea 0-3 Ivory Coast 25/6/10

North Korea line-up: M.G.Ri, J.H.Cha, J.I.Ri, N.C.Pak, K.C.Ri, Y.N.Ji, T.S.Jong, Y.J.Hong (c), I.G.Mun (K.C.Choe, 67'), C.J.Pak, Y.H.An
Ivory Coast line-up: Barry, Boka, K.Toure, Zokora, Tiote, Gervinho (Dindane, 64'), Drogba (c), Romaric (Doumbia, 79'), Keita (Kalou, 64'), Y.Toure, Eboue



Ivory Coast bowed out of the group of death with a comfortable victory over North Korea. A ten goal swing was never on the cards but the Africans wanted to give the home continent something to celebrate. The Elephants did come out all guns blazing possibly looking for that near impossible goal tally and Keita forced a save out of Ri. Gervinho, who was granted his first World Cup start, impressed and looked dangerous throughout but his ball across the box failed to find any support to slide the ball into the empty net. Boka picked up an assist three minutes later when he played a perfect through ball to Yaya Toure on the edge of the box and he slotted the ball into the corner to give the Ivorians the lead. Romaric nearly doubled their advantage but his shot scraped the outside of the post and went wide. He made up for that by giving Ivory Coast a 2-0 lead thanks to a Drogba masterclass; he managed to hold the ball up before skillfully turning and smacking the ball against the underside of the ball, it bounced out and Romaric was on hand to finish calmly. North Korea's attacking outlet came from one of the surprise players of the tournament in Jong Tae Se, they also looked dangerous from free-kicks but they couldn't find a goal.

North Korea found their feet in the second half and kept hold of possession a lot better and Jong Tae Se continued to threaten for the Koreans. Drogba misguided two headers to miss out on getting Ivory Coast's third and with the Elephants looking for all out attack Jong Tae Se again could have had a goal or two if it weren't for some last ditch defending. Substitute Salomon Kalou notched Ivory Coast's third eight minutes from time with a header from Boka's cross but by that stage everything was settled if it weren't already.