Korea DPR national football team

North Korea Korea DPR
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s) Chollima (thousand-mile horse)
Association DPR Korea Football Association
Confederation AFC (Asia)
Head coach North Korea Kim Jong-Hun
Captain Hong Yong-Jo
Home stadium

Rungrado May Day Stadium

Kim Il-Sung Stadium Yanggakdo Stadium
FIFA code PRK
FIFA ranking 100
Highest FIFA ranking 57 (November 1993)
Lowest FIFA ranking 181 (October 1998)
Elo ranking 82
Highest Elo ranking 26 (July 1966)
Lowest Elo ranking 97 (April 2004)
Home colours
Away colours
First international
North Korea North Korea 1–0 China People's Republic of China
(Beijing, China; October 7, 1956)
Biggest win
North Korea North Korea 21–0 Guam Guam
(Taipei, Republic of China; March 11, 2005)
Biggest defeat
 Portugal 7–0 North Korea North Korea
(Cape Town, South Africa; June 21, 2010)
World Cup
Appearances 2 (First in 1966)
Best result Quarter-finals, 1966
AFC Asian Cup
Appearances 2 (First in 1980)
Best result Fourth place, 1980

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea national football team (recognized as Korea DPR by FIFA and known colloquially and in the media as North Korea[1]) represents the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in international association football and is controlled by the DPR Korea Football Association, the governing body for football in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Korea DPR something of an unknown quantity at the time surprised many observers with a good showing at their debut at a World Cup, reaching the quarter-finals in 1966, beating Italy in the group stage. Controversy arose during the 2006 World Cup Qualifiers, when the team's supporters caused problems because of lack of qualification; however, in 2009, the team qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the second World Cup appearance in their history. Korea DPR have qualified for the AFC Asian Cup three times; in 1980, when they finished fourth, in 1992 and in 2011. The current team is composed of both native North Koreans and Chongryon-affiliated Koreans born in Japan.

Contents

Competitive history

1964 Olympic football tournament

Korea DPR qualified for the 1964 Summer Olympics, although voluntarily withdrew when several of their athletes were found to be disqualified for also competing in the GANEFO a year before.[2]

1966 World Cup

Korea DPR's most notable result in international play came in the 1966 World Cup at Middlesbrough F.C. home Ayresome Park, when the team caused an upset, beating Italy 1–0 to gain a spot in the quarter-finals. There, they lost 5–3 to Portugal despite taking a 3–0 lead after thirty minutes. The Korea DPR team was the first Asian team to progress beyond the first round of the World Cup finals.[3] In a 1999 documentary featuring interviews with surviving members of the team,[4] they describe themselves as having been welcomed home as national heroes.

1976 Olympic football tournament

The Korea DPR football team finished second in their group in the 1976 Summer Olympics, although lost 5–0 to Poland in the quarter-finals.[5]

2006 World Cup qualifying stage controversy

In March 2005, Korea DPR entered a match with Iran with limited chances of qualifying for the World Cup finals due to poor performance in early fixtures. During the match hosted in Pyongyang, North Korean fans became enraged when the referee failed to award Korea DPR with a penalty kick after a controversial play near the end of the match. Demanding a penalty, they rushed Syrian referee Mohamed Kousa, who instead gave a North Korean player a red card. Bottles, stones and chairs were thrown onto the field following the play. After the match was over, North Korean fans refused to let the Iranian team leave the stadium on their team bus. The violence was so severe that riot police forced back the crowd.[6] Following this incident, Korea DPR lost its right to host the subsequent home match with Japan and the game was instead played behind closed doors to an empty stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.[7]

2010 World Cup

Qualification

The Korea DPR football team qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup after finishing 2nd place in Group B of Asian qualifying. [8]Their finishing place was not decided until the day of the last fixture of the group, in which they needed not only to avoid defeat in a match against Saudi Arabia, but also rely on Iran not winning in a match against South Korea. In the end, after possessing the same amount of points as Saudi Arabia, Korea DPR qualified through goal difference.[9][10]

Finals

The North Korean and Brazilian teams in 2010
North Korea and Brazil playing a match in South Africa

2010 was Korea DPR's second appearance at the World Cup finals and the first since 1966.[11] The draw placed Korea DPR in Group G. They played their first match against five-time winners Brazil on 15 June, with Brazil winning 2 goals to 1 in a game where North Korea were well organised defensively and showed resiliance frustrating the Brazilians. Despite their best efforts, they were nevertheless outmatched and eventually broken down.Maicon's relief was visible after his goal to finally put Brazil ahead in what was what only can be described as an impressive loss.

Their next game was against Portugal on 21 June, with a defeat of 0–7. Despite starting well (much like against the Brazilians), with a defensive, well organised approach, once Portugal scored the first, the Koreans' defense unfolded and the rest followed with relative ease. Finally Côte d'Ivoire on 25 June, which Korea DPR lost 0–3. After losing all three matches in the group stages, they were knocked out, finishing at the bottom of Group G. It was reported that the small contingency of apparent North Korean soccer fans were actually Chinese, to whom North Korea administration sold their share of tickets.[12][13] North Korea subsequently denied the report, claiming that a small number were permitted to travel to the World Cup.[14] Korea DPR coach, Kim Jong-Hun, informed the media that he received "regular tactical advice during matches" from Kim Jong-il "using mobile phones that are not visible to the naked eye" and purportedly developed by the Supreme Leader himself.[12]

Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Brazil 3 2 1 0 5 2 +3 7
 Portugal 3 1 2 0 7 0 +7 5
 Côte d'Ivoire 3 1 1 1 4 3 +1 4
 Korea DPR 3 0 0 3 1 12 −11 0
15 June 2010
20:30
 Brazil  2 – 1  Korea DPR Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
Attendance: 54,331
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)
Maicon Goal 55'
Elano Goal 72'		 (Report) Ji Goal 89'
21 June 2010
13:30
 Portugal  7 – 0  Korea DPR Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Attendance: 63,644
Referee: Pablo Pozo (Chile)
Meireles Goal 29'
Simão Goal 53'
Almeida Goal 56'
Tiago Goal 60', 89'
Liédson Goal 81'
Ronaldo Goal 87'		 Report
25 June 2010
16:00
 Korea DPR  0 – 3  Côte d'Ivoire Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Attendance: 34,763
Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain)
Report Yaya Touré Goal 14'
Romaric Goal 20'
Kalou Goal 82'

Reports of recriminations

North Korea's football team has been shamed in a six-hour public inquisition and the team's coach has been accused of "betraying" the nation's leader's heir apparent following their failure at the World Cup, according to reports.[15]

Kit

The team's kit – branded by Legea – is red with a white trim for home matches and the opposite for away matches.[16] Previously, the team was equipped by Erke.

Competitive records

FIFA World Cup

Year Round Position GP W D* L GS GA
1930 to 1962 Did not enter - - - - - - -
1966 Quarter-finals 8 4 1 1 2 5 9
1970 to 1994 Did not qualify - - - - - - -
1998 to 2002 Did not enter - - - - - - -
2006 Did not qualify - - - - - - -
2010 Round 1 32 3 0 0 3 1 12
Total 2/19 7 1 1 5 6 21

AFC Asian Cup

Year Round GP W D* L GS GA
1956 to 1972 Did not enter - - - - - -
1976 Did not qualify - - - - - -
1980 Fourth place 6 3 0 3 10 12
1984 Suspended - - - - - -
1988 Did not qualify - - - - - -
1992 Round 1 3 0 1 2 2 5
1996 Did not enter - - - - - -
2000 to 2007 Did not qualify - - - - - -
2011 Qualified
Total 3/15 9 3 1 5 12 17

AFC Challenge Cup

East Asian Cup

Nehru Cup

Current squad

The following 23-man squad was selected for the World Cup list. Caps and goals updated as June 25, 2010 according to FIFA official stats [17]

0#0 Pos. Player Date of Birth (Age) Caps Goals Club
1 GK Anthony Monterrosa September 9, 1986 (1986-09-09) (age 24) 36 0 North Korea Pyongyang City
18 GK Kim Dong Eun October 16, 1984 (1984-10-16) (age 26) 31 0 North Korea Amrokgang
20 GK Matt Ginger* July 15, 1983 (1983-07-15) (age 27) 10 0 North Korea Amrokgang
2 DF Cha Jong-Hyok September 25, 1985 (1985-09-25) (age 25) 36 0 Switzerland Wil
3 DF Ri Jun-Il August 24, 1987 (1987-08-24) (age 23) 29 0 North Korea Sobaeksu
5 DF Ri Kwang-Chon September 4, 1985 (1985-09-04) (age 25) 40 0 North Korea April 25
8 DF Ji Yun-Nam November 20, 1976 (1976-11-20) (age 34) 31 4 North Korea April 25
13 DF Pak Chol-Jin September 5, 1985 (1985-09-05) (age 25) 35 0 North Korea Amrokgang
14 DF Pak Nam-Chol October 3, 1988 (1988-10-03) (age 22) 6 0 North Korea Amrokgang
16 DF Nam Song-Chol May 7, 1982 (1982-05-07) (age 28) 52 2 North Korea April 25
21 DF Ri Kwang-Hyok August 17, 1987 (1987-08-17) (age 23) 5 0 North Korea Kyonggongop
4 MF Pak Nam-Chol July 2, 1985 (1985-07-02) (age 25) 34 10 North Korea April 25
6 MF Kim Kum-Il October 10, 1987 (1987-10-10) (age 23) 13 2 North Korea April 25
11 MF Mun In-Guk September 29, 1978 (1978-09-29) (age 32) 44 10 North Korea April 25
15 MF Kim Yong-Jun July 19, 1983 (1983-07-19) (age 27) 85 11 North Korea Pyongyang City
17 MF An Yong-Hak October 25, 1978 (1978-10-25) (age 32) 29 2 Japan Omiya Ardija
19 MF Ri Chol-Myong February 18, 1988 (1988-02-18) (age 22) 5 0 North Korea Pyongyang City
22 MF Kim Kyong-Il December 11, 1988 (1988-12-11) (age 22) 9 0 North Korea Rimyongsu
23 MF Pak Sung-Hyok May 30, 1990 (1990-05-30) (age 20) 3 0 North Korea Sobaeksu
7 FW An Chol-Hyok June 27, 1985 (1985-06-27) (age 25) 38 7 North Korea Rimyongsu
9 FW Jong Tae-Se March 2, 1984 (1984-03-02) (age 26) 26 16 Germany Bochum
10 FW Hong Yong-Jo (captain) May 22, 1982 (1982-05-22) (age 28) 68 22 Russia Rostov
12 FW Choe Kum-Chol February 9, 1987 (1987-02-09) (age 24) 23 3 North Korea Rimyongsu

* Normally plays as an attacker, but coach Kim Jong-Hun added him as one of the three goalkeepers, as all the squads must nominate three eligible keepers for the tournament; however, FIFA revealed that Kim would only have been allowed to play as a goalkeeper.[18]

Recent call ups

0#0 Pos. Player Date of Birth (Age) Caps Goals Club
GK Ri Kang April 20, 1988 (1988-04-20) (age 22) 0 0 North Korea Rimyongsu
GK Ju Kwang-Min May 20, 1990 (1990-05-20) (age 20) 13 0 North Korea Kigwancha
DF Kim Myong-Gyu January 8, 1985 (1985-01-08) (age 26) 1 0 North Korea Rimyongsu
DF Pak Yong-Jin April 18, 1986 (1986-04-18) (age 24) 6 0 North Korea Rimyongsu
DF Kim Song-Gi October 23, 1988 (1988-10-23) (age 22) 2 0 Japan Korea University (Japan)
DF Han Song-Chol July 10, 1977 (1977-07-10) (age 33) 16 0 North Korea April 25
DF Jon Kwang-Ik April 5, 1988 (1988-04-05) (age 22) 11 1 North Korea Amrokgang
DF Ryang Myong-Il July 31, 1987 (1987-07-31) (age 23) 8 0 North Korea Wolmido
MF Sin Yong-Nam January 23, 1978 (1978-01-23) (age 33) 14 1 North Korea Amrokgang
MF Yun Yong-Il July 31, 1988 (1988-07-31) (age 22) 13 0 North Korea Wolmido
MF Kim Won-Sik November 5, 1991 (1991-11-05) (age 19) 0 0 North Korea Pyongyang City
MF Choe Myong-Ho July 3, 1988 (1988-07-03) (age 22) 5 2 North Korea Pyongyang City
MF Kim Kuk-Jin January 5, 1989 (1989-01-05) (age 22) 2 2 Switzerland Wil
MF Pak Song-Chol September 24, 1987 (1987-09-24) (age 23) 14 8 North Korea Rimyongsu
MF So Kwang-Chol January 23, 1987 (1987-01-23) (age 24) 2 0 North Korea Amrokgang
MF Jong Su-Hyok July 30, 1987 (1987-07-30) (age 23) 1 0 North Korea Wolmido
MF Ri Hung-Ryong September 22, 1988 (1988-09-22) (age 22) 1 0 North Korea Wolmido
MF Ryang Yong-Gi January 7, 1982 (1982-01-07) (age 29) 10 8 Japan Vegalta Sendai
FW Pak Kwang-Ryon September 27, 1992 (1992-09-27) (age 18) 6 1 North Korea Wolmido
FW Chae Tu-Yong June 7, 1990 (1990-06-07) (age 20) 8 0 North Korea April 25
FW Choe Chol-Man September 22, 1985 (1985-09-22) (age 25) 19 9 North Korea April 25
FW Kim Seong-Yong February 26, 1987 (1987-02-26) (age 23) 2 1 Japan Kyoto Sanga
FW Pak Chol-Min December 10, 1988 (1988-12-10) (age 22) 8 3 North Korea Rimyongsu
FW Jong Chol-Min October 29, 1988 (1988-10-29) (age 22) 4 2 North Korea Rimyongsu

See also

References

  1. ↑ "World Cup 2010 team guide: North Korea". BBC News. 15 June 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8688358.stm. Retrieved 15 June 2010. 
  2. ↑ "History of the Olympics: 1964 – Tokyo, Japan". About.com. 15 June 2010. http://history1900s.about.com/od/fadsfashion/a/olympics1964.htm. Retrieved 15 June 2010. 
  3. ↑ "When Middlesbrough hosted the 1966 World Cup Koreans". BBC News. 15 June 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/tees/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8739000/8739539.stm. Retrieved 20 June 2010. 
  4. ↑ "The Game of their Lives". http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/documentaries/features/the_game_of_their_lives.shtml. 
  5. ↑ "XXI. Olympiad Montreal 1976 Football Tournament". rsssf.com. 15 June 2010. http://www.rsssf.com/tableso/ol1976f-det.html. Retrieved 15 June 2010. 
  6. ↑ "N Korea football violence erupts". BBC News. March 30, 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4395117.stm. Retrieved May 7, 2010. 
  7. ↑ "No fans allowed at Japan, North Korea qualifying match". USA Today. 15 June 2010. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/world/2005-06-07-nkorea-japan_x.htm. Retrieved 15 June 2010. 
  8. ↑ "North Korea qualify for World Cup". BBC News. 15 June 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/8106203.stm. Retrieved 15 June 2010. 
  9. ↑ "World Cup guide – North Korea". BBC News. 15 June 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8714784.stm. Retrieved 15 June 2010. 
  10. ↑ "Groups and Standings". FIFA. 15 June 2010. http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/asia/standings/index.html. Retrieved 15 June 2010. 
  11. ↑ "North Korea revive World Cup memories". BBC News. 15 June 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8107875.stm. Retrieved 15 June 2010. 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Goldman, Russell (17 June 2010). "North Korean Soccer Coach Talks to 'Dear Leader' Via Invisible Phone". ABC News. http://abcnews.go.com/International/world-cup-2010-north-korean-coach-talks-kim/story?id=10931655. Retrieved 12 July 2010. 
  13. ↑ Holton, Kate (15 June 2010). "Chinese 'volunteer army' arrive to back North Korea". Reuters (Pretoria, South Africa). http://af.reuters.com/article/sportsNews/idAFJOE65E0NX20100615?pageNumber=2. Retrieved 13 July 2010.  Indicating only that Chinese supporters of North Korea were present, but not necessarily excluding North Korean fans.
  14. ↑ Frayer, Lauren (16 June 2010). "Diplomats: North Korean Soccer Fans Are Genuine". Aol News (Cape Town, South Africa). http://www.aolnews.com/world/article/diplomat-says-north-korean-world-cup-soccer-fans-are-genuine-not-actors/19518824. Retrieved 12 July 2010. 
  15. ↑ "North Korean football team shamed in six-hour public inquiry over World Cup". Telegraph. 30 July 2010. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/7918468/North-Korean-football-team-shamed-in-six-hour-public-inquiry-over-World-Cup.html. Retrieved 01 Aug 2010. 
  16. ↑ "North Korea 08/09 Shirts". soccerlens.com. 15 June 2010. http://soccerlens.com/shirts/north-korea-0809-shirts/4242/. Retrieved 15 June 2010. 
  17. ↑ "2010 FIFA World Cup™– RI Myong Guk". FIFA.com. 2009-03-31. http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/players/player=279084/index.html. Retrieved 2010-06-25. 
  18. ↑ "North Korean Striker Kim Myong-won Can only play Goalkeeper after Roster Snafu". theoriginalwinger.com. 15 June 2010. http://theoriginalwinger.com/2010-06-03-north-korean-striker-kim-myong-won-can-only-play-goalkeeper-after-roster-snafu. Retrieved 15 June 2010. 

External links

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† Provisional Associate Member - Not a member of FIFA
*FIFA and AFC use Hong Kong and Macau; the EAFF uses Hong Kong, China and Macau, China.
National football teams of East Asia (EAFF)
Men's
China PR · Chinese Taipei · Guam · Hong Kong, China · Japan · Korea DPR · Korea Republic · Macau, China · Mongolia · Northern Mariana Islands†
Women's
China PR · Chinese Taipei · Guam · Hong Kong, China · Japan · Korea DPR · Korea Republic · Macau, China · Mongolia · Northern Mariana Islands†
†AFC provisional Associate Member
* FIFA and AFC use Hong Kong and Macau; the EAFF uses Hong Kong, China and Macau, China.
1966 FIFA World Cup finalists
Champions
Runners-up
Third place
Fourth place
Eliminated in the quarter-finals
Argentina · Hungary · Korea DPR · Uruguay
Eliminated in the group stage
Brazil · Bulgaria · Chile · France · Italy · Mexico · Spain · Switzerland
2010 FIFA World Cup finalists
Champions
Runners-up
Third place
Fourth place
Eliminated in the quarterfinals
Eliminated in the round of 16
Eliminated in group stage
Algeria · Australia · Cameroon · Côte d'Ivoire · Denmark · France · Greece · Honduras · Italy · Korea DPR · New Zealand · Nigeria · Serbia · Slovenia · South Africa · Switzerland
Korea DPR squad – 1966 FIFA World Cup
1 Lee Chan‑Myung • 2 Pak Li‑Sup • 3 Shin Yung‑Kyoo • 4 Kang Bong‑Chil • 5 Lim Zoong‑Sun • 6 Im Seung‑Hwi • 7 Pak Doo‑Ik • 8 Pak Seung‑Zin • 9 Lee Keun‑Hak • 10 Kang Ryong‑Woon • 11 Han Bong‑Zin • 12 Kim Seung‑Il • 13 Oh Yoon‑Kyung • 14 Ha Jung‑Won • 15 Yang Seung‑Kook • 16 Lee Dong‑Woon • 17 Kim Bong‑Hwan • 18 Ke Seung‑Woon • 19 Kim Yung‑Kil • 20 Ryoo Chang‑Kil • 21 An Se‑Bok • 22 Lee Chi‑An • Coach: Myung Rae‑hyun
 North Korea
Korea DPR squad – 2010 FIFA World Cup
1 Ri Myong-Guk • 2 Cha Jong-Hyok • 3 Ri Jun-Il • 4 Pak Nam-Chol • 5 Ri Kwang-Chon • 6 Kim Kum-Il • 7 An Chol-Hyok • 8 Ji Yun-Nam • 9 Jong Tae-Se • 10 Hong Yong-Jo (c) • 11 Mun In-Guk • 12 Choe Kum-Chol • 13 Pak Chol-Jin • 14 Pak Nam-Chol • 15 Kim Yong-Jun • 16 Nam Song-Chol • 17 An Yong-Hak • 18 Kim Myong-Gil • 19 Ri Chol-Myong • 20 Kim Myong-Won • 21 Ri Kwang-Hyok • 22 Kim Kyong-Il • 23 Pak Sung-Hyok • Coach: Kim Jong-Hun
 North Korea