North Korea Live FIFA Football
Fighting for pride
Ivory Coast need something approaching a miracle against North Korea if they are to prolong their participation at the World Cup
COACH
Kim Jong-Hun
Birthplace: Korea
$$$Profile
Little is known about North Korea's coach and, given the secluded nature of the country, it would be difficult to speak with any accuracy about the length and success of his tenure.
It is difficult, even, to speak about the team, given that they have tried to avoid being seen as much as possible, cancelling friendlies on occasion and leaving out key players in others as they try to spring a surprise.
However, they battled successfully through qualification and in doing so revealed a physically fit defensive unit that shows little in the way of creativity or even inclination to attack. They kept six clean sheets in six matches in the third World Cup qualifying round, scoring four goals, and then conceded five and scored seven in eight matches to secure their place in South Africa in the final qualification group.
They remain the most enigmatic of the sides to reach the finals and there is a sense that the importance of protecting the country's reputation has at times come at the expense of their own progress as a footballing nation, particularly as they have been so reluctant to play teams outside Asia. Nonetheless, they held Ligue 2 side Nantes to a 0-0 draw in a friendly in October and Jong-Hun's ultra-defensive approach appears to be working to their benefit.
Strengths: Jong-Hun says he likes to "maximise the defence and attack", but his success is clearly in prioritising the defence, and he has put a strong emphasis on physical fitness, discipline and motivation. He also likes to extensively research opponents ahead of matches.
Weaknesses: The defensive tactics are likely to present serious problems in scoring goals. It has been suggested that half their World Cup squad could be made up of defenders and they failed to score in any of their final three qualifiers. With so much pressure on the players, it is also difficult for them to take any risks.
Career high: Leading the national side to a first World Cup since 1966 must surely rank as his most impressive feat.
Career low: Information not available.
Tactics: The plan appears to be to stifle their way to success, with a defensive 4-5-1 or even 5-4-1 in place. However, Jong-Hun, perhaps surprisingly, introduced attackers from the bench as his side hung on for a 0-0 draw and a much-needed point in their final qualifier, so surprise tactics may play a big role.
Quotes: "Perhaps there's no other team in the world who would be fighting with the same dedication to please the leader and to bring fame to their motherland."
Trivia: It's been suggested that North Korea leader Kim Jong-Il gave the coach advice on how to reach the World Cup. Kim Jong-Su, the general secretary of the North Korean FA, has said the 'Dear Leader' gave "in-depth guidance" on how to develop the game in the country and the coach himself has claimed he received regular tactical advice during matches, apparently using mobile phones that are not visible to the naked eye. Jong-Il is said to have developed the technology himself.
WC prediction: Adopting an ultra-defensive approach and being a highly-determined unknown quantity may give North Korea hope of frustrating their opponents, but they are unlikely to make it beyond the first round.
SQUAD
Num Pos Name
18 G Kim Myong-Gil
1 G Ri Myong-Guk
20 G Kim Myong-Won
13 D Pak Chol-Jin
2 D Cha Jong-Hyok
3 D Ri Jun-Il
5 D Ri Kwang-Chon
21 D Ri Kwang-Hyok
14 D Pak Nam-Chol
16 D Nam Song-Chol
23 D Pak Sung-Hyok
19 M Ri Chol-Myong
11 M Mun In-Guk
22 M Kim Kyong-Il
4 M Pak Nam-Chol
17 M An Yong-Hak
15 M Kim Yong-Jun
8 M Ji Yun-Nam
7 F An Chol-Hyok
12 F Choe Kum-Chol
6 F Kim Kum-Il
9 F Jong Tae-Se
10 F Hong Yong-Jo
