Chelsea players have not enjoyed the best of tournaments in South Africa so far with, most infamously, striker Nicolas Anelka sent home by France after a row with the coach.

Kalou's own involvement, and that of team-mate Didier Drogba, came to an end yesterday as Ivory Coast failed to progress from Group G while Florent Malouda and Branislav Ivanovic have also exited.

John Terry, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and Joe Cole are at least through to the second round - as are Portugal's Deco and Paulo Ferreira - but the England quartet have hardly set the event alight.

Kalou said: "I don't think it has been too good a World Cup for Chelsea's players.

"Hopefully the English boys will do better so when we do get back we will have some positive things to talk about from the World Cup.

"I hope England beat Germany. I will watch the game and cheer for JT, Lampsy and Joe Cole.

"I hope they have a great game to put England into the next round."

Kalou was on target yesterday as Ivory Coast finished by beating North Korea 3-0 in a match at Nelspruit's Mbombela Stadium they completely dominated.

It seemed the Elephants would win much more convincingly after Yaya Toure and Romaric scored in the opening 20 minutes but they squandered numerous other chances.

Ultimately victory was hollow as Portugal claimed a point against Brazil to reach the last 16 at the Africans' expense.

That made for an anti-climactic ending but Kalou at least felt his team-mates could be proud of how they have competed in a tough group.

The 24-year-old said: "It is difficult to say I am disappointed because we did a good job against Portugal, we had some back luck against Brazil and the third game we won.

"We will keep the positives and work very hard to get to that level.

"It has been a very good experience for us playing against Portugal and Brazil.

"Hopefully in the next World Cup we will get an easier group and we can make it to the next round."

Ivory Coast opened their campaign with a creditable 0-0 draw against Portugal but were then beaten 3-1 by Brazil.

"If there are any regrets it was Brazil," Kalou added. "I don't believe we played at our level.

"Maybe we were a little intimidated to play against Brazil - you have to play at your best.

"Portugal - perhaps we should have tried to win the game. We started well and pushed it and created chances but didn't put the ball in the net.

"When you have chances like that you have to take them."

For North Korea, the match became a damage-limitation exercise in the second half as they dropped back to avoid a repeat of their 7-0 calamity against Portugal.

It did not make for a great spectacle and coach Kim Jong-hun admitted he was still haunted by that Cape Town hammering.

"The most disappointing was the match against Portugal," he said. "As the coach I should have been able to counteract all of the changes.

"If that had been the case we wouldn't have conceded as many goals as we did.

"I got over-excited and so that is why we conceded so many goals."

Despite letting in 12 goals and losing all three of their games, Kim believes his players have shown potential.

The tournament was the country's first World Cup in 44 years but Kim is confident they will soon be appearing in more.

He said: "I think our players have a lot of positive characteristics.

"Up until the last minute of the match they gave it everything.

"I think that is a very positive trait and if you look at the individuals, I think they can become prominent players on the international stage.

"For the next World Cup I think our players have to improve their individual abilities, become stronger mentally and physically, move faster and we have to play to our strengths.

"We have to be better balanced between defence and attack.

"If we manage to do that I believe our team will be well prepared for the next World Cup."