Feature Indoctrinated nation believe in a different ending

What's a North Korean football academy like?

It is estimated that over a billion people watched Spain beat the Netherlands in Johannesburg thanks to an Andres Iniesta goal in the 2010 World Cup final, but North Korea weren't among them.

To this day, the people of the infamous East Asian nation believe that it was in fact Portugal who conquered the world in South Africa.

This interesting sidenote in the annals of La Roja's greatest triumph was picked up on by Alvaro Leite, a flight attendant with TAP Portugal who visited North Korea last April and shared his adventures with Sabado magazine.

"Throughout our visit to Pyongyang we had the company of a guide who spoke English," Leite recalls to MARCA's Primera Plana.

"He told us that Cristiano Ronaldo is a true idol for many people and that football has a very high importance and popularity across the country."

Perhaps the Real Madrid winger's abilities are so lauded because of what happened when Portugal met North Korea in Cape Town for a group stage fixture.

Portugal's Korean rout

"It was then that the idea formed in the country that Portugal had won, they were 4-0 up against North Korea when, due to embarrassment, the government regime cut the broadcast," adds Leite.

"It was after the 60th minute, when Tiago scored, so no one in the country saw the other three goals of Portugal's 7-0 win."

The relatively modest hammering was then used by North Korea to elevate Portugal's status, describing the 4-0 loss as acceptable due to their opponents' incredible talent.

Therefore the people were led to believe that they had been thrashed, but at least at the hands of the best side in the world and eventual World Cup winner.

That meant that no one saw Spain knock the Selecao out in the knockout rounds and the subsequent title celebrations provided by Iniesta's extra-time finish.