North Korea coach expects warm welcome home

Attitudes towards the World Cup and the national team inside dictator Kim Jong-Il's isolationist North Korea have been a matter of intrigue throughout the tournament.
It was reported that North Korea's last match, their 7-0 thrashing by Portugal on Monday, was to be given a rare live broadcast in the country

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However, as the Cape Town thrashing condemned the North Koreans to an early exit from the South African tournament, it is claimed state-run media have not mentioned it since.
Information from the country is limited but coach Kim has told the outside world his players are well respected.
Kim said: ''As we cannot go to the next round my staff and players did not meet the expectations of our countrymen.
''Nevertheless our people, even though we didn't play too well, will welcome us with open arms.
''If we had got better results I am sure it would have been better for everyone but for the young children in North Korea who are football fans, I think they will be more motivated and more interested in football.''
Mystery has also surrounded the presence of North Korea's fans at the tournament.
After an impressive turnout for their opening game against Brazil in Johannesburg, it was reported a number of them had been hand-picked to attend by the Government.
It was claimed the rest were people from either China or Japan with North Korean sympathies.
Yet Kim was not impressed tonight when it was suggested to him, at a press conference to preview tomorrow's game against Ivory Coast, that North Koreans are forbidden from travelling freely.
''I don't think you are well informed. We can travel abroad freely, that is a free choice of each North Korean. I think you have been misinformed.''
Kim's statement is backed up by his government's website, which states: ''In spite of accusations to the contrary, North Koreans enjoy the full freedom of travel.''
Before returning home, North Korea must deal with Sven-Goran Eriksson's Ivory Coast in their final Group G match in Nelspruit.
The promise of their commendable 2-1 loss to Brazil unravelled spectacularly at the hands of Portugal, they are anxious to salvage some pride.
Kim says morale has already been restored and is confident of exiting on a positive note.
He said: ''If results are good confidence levels go up and if they are not good then, psychologically, for a certain period of time, they are going to be affected. It is the same for all teams.
''We did concede a lot of goals but we are going to fight hard in our next game.
''It will be a way for us to avenge ourselves and we will try to restore our honour. We have restored our confidence level.''
The match would appear little more than a dead rubber with Ivory Coast's chances of progression slim.
They need to win and make up nine goals on Portugal, who at the same time must also lose to Brazil.
''Ivory Coast will probably be very aggressive,'' Kim said.
''The result will determine whether they can go to the round of 16.
''We are going to respond tactically to the different situations that occur.''
This has been North Korea's first World Cup appearance in 44 years but Kim believes the game will be seeing a lot more of them in the future.
He said: ''Back in North Korea there are a lot of young players who have great potential, physically and technically.
''I think we will see a lot more good players in the future and I fully believe we will be in the next World Cup.''