The African side bowed out of the tournament with a hollow 3-0 victory in their final Group G game in Nelspruit yesterday.

The Ivorians earned a creditable draw against Portugal in their first game but were ultimately undone in their quest to qualify from a difficult pool by a 3-1 loss to Brazil.

It is the second successive World Cup Ivory Coast have been grouped with tough opposition having finished behind Argentina and Holland four years ago.

Drogba, the team's inspirational forward and captain, said: "If we were in a better group maybe we would have gone through, you never know.

"I think we were unlucky both times but for a country like Ivory Coast to be in the World Cup twice is fantastic, knowing that we have never been there before.

"To be able to play against Brazil and Portugal, two of the best countries in the world, is like a dream for our country.

"We were unlucky but at the same time really happy to have played those nations."

Ivory Coast went into yesterday's clash at the Mbombela Stadium with a theoretical chance of reaching the last 16.

To do that they needed wins for both themselves and Brazil against Portugal by a combined total of nine clear goals.

It was always unlikely but they played as if it was possible as they tore into the North Koreans from the outset.

They had 14 shots in a one-sided first half, 10 on target, and scored through Yaya Toure and Romaric.

They were unable to maintain the same intensity after the break as North Korea went defensive in a damage-limitation exercise and had to settle for just one more Salomon Kalou strike.

Drogba added: "Our World Cup is over but I think we can be proud of what we did against Portugal and what we did against Brazil, even though we lost.

"We are disappointed but at the same time we can't be too disappointed from a group like this with Portugal and Brazil."

The result condemned North Korea to a third successive loss in their first World Cup for 44 years.

What began with a battling 2-1 loss to Brazil turned to embarrassment as Portugal thrashed them 7-0.

Their second-half tactics at least spared them another such hammering and coach Kim Jong-hun was relatively pleased with the outcome.

Kim said: "In our second match we conceded a lot of goals to Portugal.

"As the coach that was a blow to my pride and confidence.

"During this match we felt it would be important to get a good result and restore the pride and confidence lost in the second match.

"That was my basic attitude towards this match."