When North Korea – who play international soccer as Korea DPR – qualified for their first and only World Cup appearance in 1966, they made quite an impact in spite of being given very little hope of success. Forty-four years on, and public opinion gives them pretty much the same chance in South Africa.
Back in ’66 they made some memorable moments. The first came in the group stage when they beat Italy 1-0 to qualify for the final eight, sending the Italians crashing out in the process. This game is often said to be the biggest shock in World Cup history.
In the quarter-finals, their opponents were the highly touted Portugal. After only 23 minutes on the clock, the Koreans were an incredible 3-0 up, and many people were starting thinking that they could actually go all the way. But up stepped Eusebio, one of the greats in the history of the beautiful game, to score four goals in an amazing comeback for Portugal, who won 5-3.
It would be difficult to assess today’s North Koreans’ ability on the soccer pitch, because very little has been seen of them. In fact, in the run up to the World Cup they have often been referred to as the ‘mystery men’. Their home country itself has been shrouded in secrecy ever since its divide with South Korea after the Second World War.
So judging only by the results in their qualifying campaign in Asia, defence would seem key to their success. Ten clean sheets and only once conceding more than one goal in a game (a 2-1 defeat) would suggest they will be difficult to break down.
They may be lacking a bit of firepower up front, but they do have 26-year-old Jong Tae-Se, who’s been nicknamed ‘Asia’s Rooney’. His international record reads 12 goals in 20 matches. But captain Hong Yong-Jo – 27, and one of the few who plies his trade outside of North Korea, with FC Rostov in Russia – also knows where the net is.
Nicknamed Chollima (a swift, mythical horse with wings) by their own fans, it has been said that team spirit is the biggest asset for Korea DPR – who come in at 105, between Thailand and Rwanda, in the Fifa world rankings.
Despite this their coach, 53-year-old Kim Jong-Hun, is focused on reaching the last 16, or maybe even a repeat of their last World Cup appearance. But this looks to be very optimistic when you consider they are up against three of the best players in the world: Kaka of Brazil, Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Ivory Coast’s Didier Drogba in what’s shaping up to be the toughest group in the 2010 World Cup.
