2010 FIFA World Cup, Group G: Goose Eggs For Elephants and Portugal; Brazil Tops North Korea

Group G play in the World Cup in South Africa commenced with two Tuesday contests.

At Port Elizabeth:

Portugal and Ivory Coast battled to a 0-0 stalemate.  In this Getty Images snapshot from Laurence Griffiths, here is the Elephants' Didier Drogba (who entered the game, surgically repaired broken arm in a plastic cast in all, in the 66th minute) with his arm around Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo.

At Johannesburg:

Brazil held off North Korea 2-1.  Maicon, thanks in part to a miscue by North Korean goalkeeper Ri Myong-Guk, scored in the 54th minute (pictured here), while Elano, on the day after his birthday, delivered what turned out to be the game winner in the 72nd minute.  Ji Yun-Nam did put the North 
Koreans on the scoreboard in the 89th minute.

Photo below from Fabrice Coffrini, AFP/Getty Images.

GROUP G STANDINGS:


1. Brazil (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
2. Ivory Coast (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
     Portugal (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
4. North Korea (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)