Damn those evil capitalists and their weather-control machines.

(BBC) — North Korea’s coach blamed his side’s 2-0 loss to the United States on his players getting struck by lightning in the build up to the Women’s World Cup.

Kwang Min Kim claimed that some of them were hospitalised with electrocution after a training match on 8 June.

Tournament favourites United States recovered from a slow start to to take maximum points in their Group C opener.

North Korea — the youngest team in the tournament by average age — started well in Dresden, but were eventually overwhelmed when Lauren Cheney completed a swift move with a well-timed header before Rachel Buehler converted with 14 minutes remaining.

“When we stayed in Pyongyang during training our players were hit by lightning, and more than five of them were hospitalised,” said coach Kim, without naming the affected players specifically.

“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.