Group G: Brazil & Portugal draw, both teams move on

In Group G Brazil were through, but who would join them in the knockout stage. Portugal or Ivory Coast.

(matches to kick off simultaneously)

Portugal 0-0 Brazil
Goals: none.

Brazil and Portugal played out a boring goalless draw at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. It helped both sides as they moved into the pre-quarterfinals.

A lot was expected from these two teams, but the constellation in the group allowed them to sit back rather then being forced to play football. Brazil initially looked the better of the two sides, but there wasn't much of a difference. Still there was a lot of honour in play as seven cards were dished out, some more could have been given and some even red, but overall the referee Benito Armando Archundia Tellez from Mexico had a good game.

Portugal had more of the game after the break and they could have gone ahead on the hour mark as Cristiano Ronaldo played the ball square to Raul Meireles and he lobed the ball over keeper Julio Cesar, but the ball went wide of the ball. And Brazil could have won the match in the 90th minute as a Ramirez shot was deflected of a Portuguese defender, but keeper Eduardo was there to get the ball out of danger.


North Korea 0-3 (0-2) Ivory Coast
Goals: 0-1 Yaya Toure (14'), 0-2 Romaric (20'), 0-3 Salomon Kalou (82').

Ivory Coast beat the North Koreans 3-0 at the Mbombela Stadium in Nespruit. Ivory Coast did win their first game of the tournament but it wasn't enough to move from the group of death, while North Korea didn't look the same team they were against Brazil after their 7-0 trashing against Portugal.

The Ivorians were in control from the start and their midfielder Yaya Toure gave them the lead in the 14th minute. Captain Didier Drogba should have doubled their lead in the 20th minute, but after his miss Romaric is their to slot the ball home. Thereafter Ivory Coast should have taken a three, four goal lead but they wasted too many chances against North Korea.

The Ivorians continued their attacks against the North Koreans after the breather. And they had the chances to score more goals, but only Chelsea star Salomon Kalou was able to add another goal in the 82nd minute for the final score of 3-0 which meant both sides go home after the group stage.