Craziest World Cup moments 1️⃣0️⃣: North Korea's tears in 2010 | OneFootball

44 years is a long time to wait between World Cups.

North Korea shocked the football world in 1966 when, in their first ever appearance, they beat Italy 1-0 at Middlesbrough’s Ayresome Park.

It was, and still is, one of the greatest shocks in the history of sport, and saw the Korean players treated like gods back home.

For a long time though, that was their only taste of World Cup glory. Until 2010.

The South African World Cup gave us many memorable moments. Frank Lampard’s non-goal against Germany. Luis Suárez’s goalkeeping exploits. Spain’s ultimate triumph. Vuvuzelas…okay, maybe not that one.

However those are somewhat overshadowed by the tears of Jong Tae-se before North Korea’s opening group game against Brazil in Johannesburg.

With the anthem blaring, and the tiny Asian nation just about to take on the mighty Seleção, there was no holding back the emotion for the striker, who, in qualifying, had done more than most to get them there.

Some say those tears were to please the Dear Leader back home, but we’re not so cynical here at Onefootball Towers.