South Africa World Cup 2010 Group G: North Korea

GROUP G

Brazil North Korea Ivory Coast Portugal

North Korea

Road to South Africa

The Road to Africa was long for North Korea and it started way back in 2007 with a 9-2 aggregate win over Mongolia. That was expected but what happened over the subsequent 14 matches wasn't. The 1966 World Cup quarterfinalists breezed through the third round of qualification without too many problems, a 1-0 win in Jordan the highlight of the round along with an emotional goalless draw against South Korea in Shanghai. But few gave the team a chance in the final round along with continental powerhouses Iran, Saudi Arabia and South Korea.

A win in UAE set the team on their way and then good home form, with wins over Saudi Arabia, a excellent performance and a highlight of the qualification campaign, and UAE and draws with South Korea and Iran, laid the foundation to go to Riyadh on the final night to draw against the Saudis and take a place in South Africa. The celebrations in front of 70,000 stunned fans at the King Fahd Stadium were emotional after 90 minutes of back to the wall defending.

Fixtures

North Korea Copyright © Soccerphile	North Korea Copyright © Soccerphile

North Korea v Brazil 15 June; Johannesburg
North Korea v Portugal 21 June; Cape Town
North Korea v Ivory Coast 25 June; Nelspruit

Analysis

Not much is known about North Korea but what everyone knows is that the team is one that likes to defend. This is a team that is built on a solid backline and one that didn't concede a single goal in the six matches in the third round of qualification. When the goalkeeper doesn't have to pick up the ball from the back of the net even once, then your strikers don't have to score an awful lot of goals to get the results and the points necessary.

But the team does carry some sort of goal threat and if often comes by the way of the counter-attack. North Korea are capable of moving the ball out of defence at a rapid rate.

It is a game plan that has served them well and the team has been together for a number of years and Brazil, Portugal and Ivory Coast will find that North Korea are perhaps the hardest working team in the entire tournament and the one embodies teamwork.

What the team lacks is obvious. Given the fact that North Korea doesn't participate in the Asian Cup and rarely play friendlies then there is a real lack of experience in playing teams from overseas. That has been rectified to some extent with mini-tours of Africa and planned matches in South America. Most players ply their trade in the sub-standard domestic league north of the 38th Parallel. There have been moves to send more overseas but whether it will be enough to survive in the Group of Death remains to be seen.

That label won't frighten the players too much. In many ways, the better the opposition, the more North Korea like it. This is not a team that is set up to, or accustomed to, attack and take the game to the opposition. Having little of the ball, frustrating the opposition and looking to hit on the counter attack are what North Korea do best.

Key player: Hong Yong-jo

Hong is the man who pulls the strings in the Koreans' counter-attacking strategy. The attacker has great ball control skills, can pass well and is dangerous from set pieces. Hong is based in Russia with Rostov and there have been rumours of interest from teams further west. That interest could become concrete if this intelligent player gets a chance to show what he can do in South Africa. If Hong is able to find some space in South African stadiums next June, then the big boys of the group may have cause to regret it.

One to watch: Jong Tae-se

Perhaps the best known of DPRK's stars is the Japan-based Jong. 'The People's Rooney' scores on a regular basis for one of the J-league's best clubs Kawasaki Frontale. A dynamo in attack, when Jong gets the ball, there is only one thing on his mind and that involves making his way towards goal in the most direct way possible. Is often on his own in attack for the national team but is still capable of giving most defensive lines a tough afternoon. Jong is keen on a move to Europe and naturally sees the World Cup as a great chance of doing just that. He will be pumped up and then chances of him passing to a team-mate anywhere near the goal will be close to zero.

Coach: Kim Jong-hun

There is some confusion as to exactly who is the coach of North Korea at the moment. Kim lead the team through qualification but his position at home has been questioned. In the recent Qatar Friendly International Tournament, which North Korea won, Jo Tong-sop was in charge amid rumours of Kim being back in Pyongyang due to illness. Coach Kim is an animated figure on the sidelines and has worked with his players for years and they know each other very well. Watching a North Korea training session is an exercise in repetition and organization.

Record

1966 – quarter-finals

FIFA Ranking

Predictions & Latest Odds

Early exit.
World Cup Betting

How they qualified

Finishing second in group B of the final round of Asian qualification.

On the sidelines

Ranked 86 by FIFA (Dec 09) the lowest of all 32 participants.
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Soccerphile says

The Group of Death is aptly named this time round. Brazil, Portugal and Ivory Coast are all capable of going far in South Africa. If North Korea can make the last 16 then it will rival, if not surpass, their 1966 exploits. But the chances of the East Asians winning a game are slim. But while North Korea may not go into the second round, they could have a big say in which one of the other teams also falls at the first hurdle. A point in one of the games is certainly not beyond DPRK and whichever team slips up, may miss their chance. North Korea are not going to make it but it is going to be interesting to see who they take with them.

The Squad

Goalkeepers Ri Myong-Guk (Pyongyang City), Kim Myong-Gil (Amrokgang), Kim Myon-Won (Amrokgang)
Defenders Cha Jong-Hyok (Amrokgang), Nam Song-Chol (April 25), Pak Chol-Jin (Amrokgang), Pak Nam-Chol (Amrokgang), Ri Jun-Il (Sobaeksu), Ri Kwang-Chon (April 25), Ri Kwang-Hyok (Kyonggongop)
Midfielders: Ahn Young-Hak (Omiya Ardija/Japan), Ji Yun-Nam (April 25), Kim Kyong-Il (Rimyongsu), Kim Yong-Jun (Chengdu), Mun In-Guk (April 25), Pak Nam-Chol (April 25), Pak Sung-Hyok (Sobaeksu), Ri Chol-Myong (Pyongyang City)
Forwards An Chol-Hyok (Rimyongsu), Choe Kum-Chol (Rimyongsu), Hong Yong-Jo (FC Rostov/Russia), Jong Tae-Se (Kawasaki Frontale/Japan), Kim Kum-Il (April 25)

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