Greatest Excuse Ever - My Team Lost Because They Were Struck By Lightning

The go-to excuse of "the dog ate my homework" wouldn't work very well in North Korea. You have to be MUCH more original that that.

After the 2-0 loss to the United States in the Women's World Cup, North Korea manager Kwang Min Kim told the press that his team was recently struck by lightning.

From the BBC:

"When we stayed in Pyongyang during training our players were hit by lightning, and more than five of them were hospitalised," said coach Kim.

"Some stayed in hospital and then came to Germany later than the rest of us. The goalkeeper and the four defenders were most affected, and some midfielders as well. The physicians said the players were not capable of participating in the tournament.

"But World Cup football is the most important and significant event for a footballer, so they don't want to think about anything but football.

"The fact that they played could be called abnormal, the result of very strong will."

Awesome! More at Yahoo Sports

World Cup GK Profile: Ri Myong-Guk (North Korea)

Ri Myong-Guk

Squad No: 1
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 23
Birth Date: Sep 9, 1986
Birth Place: Pyongyang, North Korea
Height: 6' 2" (1.87m)
Weight: 174 lbs (79 kg)
Club: Pyongyang City (North Korea)
International Caps: 33

Club History
Pyongyang City (PRK)



from Wikipedia (full wiki)
Ri Myong-Guk is a North Korean international football player. He plays for Pyongyang City in the DPR Korea League.

He played 15 matches in 2010 World Cup qualifying for Korea DPR, including keeping a clean sheet in the decisive final group game against Saudi Arabia. After the match, he stated "I felt like I was defending the gateway to my motherland". His performances also saw him nominated for the 2009 Asian Footballer of the Year award.

He will most likely be goalkeeper at the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa.