North Korea – World Cup 2010 Preview #27 (Group G)

North Korea

Appearances at World Cup finals: North Korea have qualified just once before, at the 1966 tournament held in England. Since then they’ve withdrawn or not entered on four occasions and have failed to quality on all other occasions.

Best ever performance: North Korea’s qualification for 1966 was farcical and, had it not been for Australia’s participation, they would’ve qualified by default. Africa and Asia had been awarded a single place in the tournament; the final qualifier being the winner of a play-off between the two continents, with Australia included in the Asian group. However, the entire African contingent withdrew in protest at their meagre allocation of places at the World Cup finals. The Asian qualifying group was due to be played in Japan. When the venue was moved from Japan to Cambodia, South Korea withdrew, leaving their geographical neighbours free to advance to England via a 9-2 aggregate victory over Australia.

At Ayresome Park, North Korea’s tournament commenced with a 3-0 defeat against the Soviet Union. Their second game versus Chile started little better. Trailing to an early penalty, North Korea salvaged their chances of progression when Pak Seung-Zin equalised with the 700^th goal in World Cup history.

A famous victory over Italy followed (see below) before they bowed out in style at Goodison Park, where a 3-0 lead over Portugal was doused out by four Eusebio goals as North Korea were defeated 5-3.

Famous moment in WC history: North Korea entered the final group game against Italy knowing that they needed an unlikely win – and even then they could’ve been knocked out had Chile triumphed over the Soviet Union the following day. Regarded for their pace, North Korea’s performance was described by journalist Brian Glanville as being “played with splendid spirit and refreshing sportsmanship.” After the Italians were rocked by an injury to key player Giacomo Bulgarelli, Pak Doo-Ik struck the ball low past ‘keeper and recent Coppa Italia winner Enrico Albertosi and subsequently conspired to delay his celebrations by getting caught up in the netting.

The Times noted a North Korea commentator with “tears streaming down his face as he sent the fantastic news to the Far East.”

The 1-0 victory was revisited in the 2002 documentary The Game of Their Lives, a film that the current squad viewed for inspiration following their recent friendly against the Republic of Congo in France. Being a regime-approved edited version, we can only speculate that they saw the win versus Italy and very little else.

The Lowdown: Opinions on exactly how to describe North Korea’s formation are somewhat divided, but Jonathan Wilson’s observation that they occasionally favour a 3-3-3-1 formation offers the most intrigue. Regardless, their game is heavily based on defence, with congestion, organisation, teamwork and awkwardness far overwhelming flair with goals often the result of a swift counter-attack. Although they sunk nine aggregate goals past Mongolia in the first round of qualifying, the two subsequent group stages saw them score eleven goals and concede just five times across the remaining fourteen games.

Such tactics didn’t always endear them to the opposition. “I don’t like the way they play,” complained Iran and Osasuna midfielder Javid Nekounam. “Anyhow, we will beat them again.”

No prizes for guessing how that turned out.

Leader Kim Jong-Il has credited himself with contributing to the tactics that got North Korea to the World Cup; a statement that, unsurprisingly, manager Kim John-Hun is content to agree with. His apparent reward for such loyalty was to see Sven Göran-Eriksson and then Philippe Troussier lined up as his replacement.

Given their generally narrow qualifying victories, it’s impossible to see North Korea raising their game sufficiently to escape this tournament’s group of death. Potential champions they’re clearly not, but their cynical approach to the game could well see one of their more illustrious opponents drop points in a group in which every win will be vital.

Just three of the team’s World Cup squad play outside of their homeland. Captain Hong Yong-Jo is a squad player for Russian Premier League side FC Rostov, but has a credible strike rate at international level. The other two are based in Japan; prolific Kawasaki Frontale goalscorer Jong Tae-Se was born there and was originally a South Korean citizen, while midfielder An Yong-Hak is one of the squad’s senior players and plays his club football for Omiya Ardija.

Attacking midfielder Ryang Yong-Gi, who recently helped his club side Vegalta Sendai earn promotion to the J-League’s Division 1, missed the deadline for the preliminary squad announcement but could yet make the tournament. Speedy midfielder Kim Kuk-Jin, currently playing for FC Wil in the second tier of Swiss football, didn’t make the cut.

Qualification: While the European World Cup qualifying groups have the aura of a marathon dragged down by awkward and sometimes distant matches against low-ranked whipping boys, the process in Asia is almost as cumbersome. After uncharacteristically plundering nine goals past Mongolia back in August 2007’s two-legged opening round, North Korea bypassed the second round by virtue of their regional ranking.

Round three pitted North Korea against their neighbours, but both matches against their tough opposition – including a home leg shifted neutrally to Shanghai – ended in goalless draws, with progression to the final round of qualifying guaranteed by taking ten points from a possible twelve from matches against Jordan and Turkmenistan.

The possibilities of a pan-Korean footballing beef emerged again in round four. Of the four competing team in their group, only UAE were ranked lower. With two automatic qualifiers and another team having a second chance via the play-offs, the odds seemed against them.

A 2-1 opening victory against UAE commenced proceedings with promise and was followed by another virtual home match in Shanghai versus the South (1-1) and a 2-1 defeat in front of 60,000 to Iran in Tehran. Four points from three games was credible, but then two home victories against Saudi Arabia (1-0) and UAE (2-0) turned the group around. The dream was on.

Next up was yet another game against the South and this time controversy brewed when Japanese-born striker Jong Tae-Se’s headed “goal” was ruled out for not fully crossing the line. A late winner by the South’s Kim Chi-woo stoked the North’s eagerness to sense a conspiracy theory; the F.A. made an official statement blaming an “adulterated foodstuff” – food poisoning. Not that anyone appeared to take such accusations all that seriously.

North Korea rode their luck a little in the early stages of their penultimate match to Iran, although in all fairness their ability to deny much in the way of clear cut opportunities was just as vital. Indeed, a stopping time counter attack (well, some might say a desperate hit and chase) almost earned a dramatic winner but the game closed at 0-0.

The final pair of group games left it all to play for. A win against Saudi Arabia would take North Korea to South Africa. A defeat coupled with a win for Iran and they wouldn’t even make the play-offs. An 82^nd minute equaliser by Park Ji-Sung for the already qualified South Korea condemned Iran’s chances in a 1-1 draw.

In Riyadh, North Korea survived a succession of early scares. First, Saudi Arabia failed to capitalise on a poor clearance from Ri Jun-Il, then ‘keeper Ri Myong-Guk just about tipped away a free-kick from veteran midfielder Mohammed Noor and soon Ri Kwang-Chon prevented a goal with another desperate clearance. North Korea offered little in response, although another patented rapidfire counter-attack almost resulted in a goal for Jong Tae-Se.

The second half continued with Saudi Arabian domination and they thought they’d taken the lead with a quickly taken free-kick until it was ruled out. A red card for Kim Yong-Jun – sent on in the 89^th minute as a time-killing substitute – was too late to make any impact and North Korea survived, qualifying on goal difference. Post-match celebrations included ecstatic tears, coach Kim Jong-Hun being lifted into his players’ shoulders and young defender Pak Nam-Chol rather sheepish acceptance of the Samsung-sponsored man of the match award.

Top scorer in qualifying: Hong Yong-Jo scored four times and probably would’ve added a couple more had he played either game versus Mongolia.

All-time World Cup finals top scorer: Pak Seung-Zin leads the way with 1966 World Cup goals versus Chile and Portugal.

Key Player: Hong Young-Jo is the obvious star and captain.

One to Watch: Goalkeeper Ri Myong-Guk is capable of producing some quality saves, but his decision making appears to be far less consistent.

On the move?: North Koreans have very limited freedom to move internationally. Even Hong Yong-Jo is said to be tracked by the North Korea national security agency. So realistically, Jong Tae-Se looks the most likely and he has the added advantage of already being a proven scorer in the J-League.

Group G, North Korea, Previews, World Cup 2010