2010 World Cup Preview: Korea DPR

Has a country ever entered a World Cup with so little known about them? The North Koreans will hoping the element of surprise can inspire them to at least a victory in South Africa, as it may be the only weapon the possess.

North Korean football was an unknown quantity on its one and only previous visit to the top table in 1966, but that side were far more open on their arrival in Middlesborough. Those players are still revered in Pyongyang today, but if this years tournament doesn't go as well, North Koreans may never know how their national team even performed, as live coverage of matches is not available in the communist state.

While the national government may have been happy to see their team qualify, they must surely be now worried about how the squad will be perceived and treated, and how many fans will act now that their first game is just over a week away. The team's home qualifier with South Korea even had to be moved across the border into China, as the potential images of the South Korean flag were too worrying to comprehend.

Qualification was based on a solid foundation at the back and victories by the odd goal. Second place behind their southern neighbours and ahead of serial qualifiers Saudi Arabia guaranteed a place in the finals.  

WORLD CUP HISTORY

As mentioned, North Korea's visit to England in 1966 was a successful one, reaching the quarter finals, only to throw away a 3-0 lead away against Portugal . The teams attacking instincts ultimately cost them. Once they were three goals up, they persisted to attack and ultimately paid the price. The squad did manage to endear themselves to the people of the North East and Liverpool however.

SCHEDULE- Group G

Brazil                 June 15th- Johannesburg

Portugal             June 21st- Cape Town

Cote d'Ivoire     June 25th- Nelspruit

The Korean's couldn't have asked for a tougher draw, with the toughest assignment up first. The best they can hope for is avoiding humiliation. Thankfully for the Asian side, this Brazil is not as free scoring as previous incarnations, although they are efficient, while Portugal are were lacking in the goal department during qualification and Ivory Coast could be without Didier Drogba.

The Koreans therefore, have hope of keeping the score down.

KEY PLAYERS

The entirety of the squad, bar three, are based at home, in the DPR Korea League. Ahn Young-Hak and Jong Tae-Se ply their trade in the J-League in Japan, while captain Hong Jong-Jo plays for Rostov in Russia.

The two Japanese based players were actually born in the land of the rising sun, but elected to play for North Korea through ancestry, not an option most people would chose to take up. 

Jong Tae-Se is regarded as the country's answer to Daivd Beckham. His 15 goals in 22 internationals have made him the team's biggest star.   

One of the squad's star strikers, Kim Myong-Won, was registered as one of the three goalkeepers, with the expectation that he would still be allowed perform as an outfield player. FIFA have not seen the matter that way, and a man who has scored 98 goals in 112 games at club level will can now only be called upon to keep goal. 

ONE TO WATCH- ?

Of all 32 qualified nations, North Korea's players are the most mysterious.

BEST CASE SCENARIO...

Win a match

WORST CASE SCENARIO...

Getting obliterated in all three games.

PREDICTION

Due to the weaknesses of Asian qualifying, it is hard to affirm an accurate gauge of this North Korean team. Their close results with their neighbours suggest organisation is the priority, therefore three narrowish losses await.