With a draw against Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, North Korea did enough to join South Korea, Australia and Japan as an automatic qualifier from Asia for South Africa 2010. It will mark North Korea's first appearance in the World Cup since 1966 in England, when the team famously defeated Italy at Middlesbrough's Ayresome Park.

North Korea deflected offensive pressure from Saudi Arabia. The Saudis failed to capitalize on a number of scoring opportunities as Korean goalkeeper Ri Myong Guk produced some fine saves. Saudi Arabia will get another chance to progress after finishing third in Group B to advance to the Asian playoffs, where it will face Bahrain. The two teams will play each other over two legs in September, with the winners advancing to a home-and-away playoff against Oceania winners New Zealand in October and November

 

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