CAPE TOWN, South Africa: Portugal and North Korea meet on Monday in a reprise of one of the most famous games in World Cup history.
The remarkable 5-3 quarterfinal win of a Eusebio-inspired Portugal over North Korea at the 1966 World Cup continues to resonate as one of the greatest games ever in football’s premier tournament.
North Korea is making its first World Cup appearance since, and after a respectable 2-1 defeat to Brazil in its opening game, the Korean side must strive for at least a draw to keep alive ambitions of reaching the round of 16.
Portugal, which drew 0-0 with Ivory Coast in its Group G opener, needs a win, given its last group game will be against mighty Brazil.
"We know we can improve. Things will be different on Monday," said striker Liedson after the game against Ivory Coast.
"You’re always nervous in the first World Cup game. We’ll be calmer in the second one."
Reclusive North Korea played with great composure against Brazil, before succumbing. Coach Kim Jong Hun said the team had gained confidence from the match against Brazil, despite the loss.
But having manfully resisted the multi-pronged Brazil, the North Koreans are only looking in one direction to see Portugal’s threat — Cristiano Ronaldo.
Striker Jong Tae Se compared Ronaldo favorably with Eusebio, whose four goals in that 1966 quarterfinal ended North Korea’s fairytale run.
"Ronaldo is better than Eusebio," he said. "He is a more skillful player both tactically and technically."
Midfielder An Yong Hak said the clash with the Portuguese will be tough because "the whole world knows Ronaldo is the best player in the world."
The slogan on the side of North Korea’s team bus in South Africa, where the reclusive country’s team has come once again into the world’s view with a second World Cup appearance, clearly states the country’s
intentions: "1966 Again! Victory for DPR of Korea!" it says, using North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Anything less than a win for Spain against Honduras on Monday could see one of the pre-tournament favorites making an ignominious early exit from the World Cup.
The shock 1-0 loss to Switzerland in its opening game was only the second defeat for Spain in 49 matches and means that the team cannot afford to slip up again in its remaining two Group H fixtures.
The 2008 European champions play Honduras at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park. Both teams lost their opening games 1-0 and trail Switzerland and Chile by three points following the first round of matches.
Spain striker Fernando Torres is confident that the team’s bad day has passed and that it will not be leaving the World Cup early — like many Spanish sides have done in the past.
The 26-year-old Liverpool striker will be hoping he gets the nod from coach Vicente del Bosque to start the match, after coming on as a substitute in the game against Switzerland.
"I’ve been training for more than two weeks with my teammates and little by little I’ve forgotten about the injury," said Torres, who is recovering from surgery on his right knee in April. "It’s up to the coach. He decides."
Alongside forward David Villa, Torres could provide the extra punch Spain was lacking against the Swiss. Despite having the bulk of the possession, Spain lacked a cutting edge against a massed Swiss defense.
Unsurprisingly, Spain has encountered a torrent of criticism following the Swiss defeat, much of it directed at the coach.
Former coach Luis Aragones, who led Spain to the 2008 European title, said his successor was wrong in playing two holding midfielders — Xabi Alonso and Sergio Busquets — and only Villa up front. That left Torres and creative midfielder Cesc Fabregas out of the lineup. Fabregas did not even come on as a substitute.
Since the defeat, the Spanish players have insisted there will be no change to the team’s possession-based, quick-touch game regardless of who starts.
Honduras coach Reinaldo Rueda is expecting the full force of a Spanish backlash.
Rueda, who served a touchline ban in the match against Chile after having been sent off in Honduras’ last qualifier against El Salvador, will be hoping that his main striker David Suazo has fully recovered from right thigh injury to be able to play a part in the match against Spain.
Though ultimately overwhelmed by Chile in the 1-0 defeat, Honduras showed attacking verve at stages during the match.
Torres said Spain will not be taking the Central American team lightly.
"They’ve got dangerous players on the counterattack and they can do us damage if we think it’s going to be easy," Torres said.
"They’re going to want to win, a draw doesn’t serve them."
Chile and Switzerland — two teams with opening 1-0 wins — meet Monday knowing that a win for either would be as good as a ticket to the round of 16 at the World Cup.
Switzerland’s surprising victory over Spain — its first in 18 attempts — and Chile’s win over Honduras by the same score threw Group H wide open and left Spain, one of the title favorites, with a tougher road to the last 16.
Midfielder Jean Beausejour, who scored Chile’s goal, said his side will have to change its focus against Switzerland for the game at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
"Honduras gave us the responsibility of trying to win the game, we were the ones looking to get a result," Beausejour said. "Against Switzerland, that’s going to change a bit. They’ve got a potent counterattack and it’s going to be a very even game."
There is no question about Switzerland’s ability to defend — it has now gone 490 minutes across this World Cup and the 2006 one without conceding a goal. It was knocked out of the last tournament on penalties by Ukraine in the round of 16.
Switzerland’s attempt to keep that scoreless streak alive will be harmed by the loss of key defender Philippe Senderos, who sprained his right ankle against Spain and will also miss Switzerland’s last group match against Honduras.
Chile is hoping to have Humberto Suazo, the leading scorer in South American qualifying, back from a left thigh injury for the match.
