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Unsubstantiated rumors are also circulating that the North Korean players amuse themselves on the road with the game of rock-paper-scissors and that Kim Jong-il himself outfitted them with individual earpieces so he can broadcast live advice from Pyongyang into their ears as they trot around the pitch. Without defending the general diligence of the press, these rumors simply couldnt be verified or disproved because every press conference involving the North Koreans has been preceded by a warning from a FIFA bureaucrat that questions that intersect politics with football are off-limits.
Mozambiques historical connection to Portugal made for an intensely pro-Lisbon crowd at the Troyeville Hotel, and each one of the sexy Portuguese boys seven goals was met with exponentially louder howls of glee. But I have to admit that the more goals the Portuguese scored, the worse I felt. I didnt dare to wear my fiery colors of labor too obviously inside the Troyeville, but I was rooting for North Korea. Partly because of the amusement factorrock-paper-scissors!but mainly because, when I looked at those hapless North Korean players giving up goal after goal, I wondered how safe their friends and families would be.
