With Brazil lurking in the shadows there was simply too much riding on this game for it to really ignite, although had Cristiano Ronaldo's shot not thundered against the post early in the first half, this might have ignited into a classic.


Ivory Coast's improbable manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson, resisted the temptation to start with Didier Drogba, although when he was introduced the Chelsea striker almost created the breakthrough that might have settled what was always an absorbing contest. Before the tournament began, this match was supposed to decide who join the Selecao in the knockout rounds. Now it might come down to who takes most from North Korea.