The North Korean team are a mysterious entity going into this year’s World Cup. Few know what to expect, and even fewer give them any sort of chance of progressing beyond the group stages. They don’t possess a single player known to the general public but they will be aiming to shock the world like they did in 1966.
The 1966 World Cup was the only time prior to this year that North Korea participated in this competition. On that occasion, they produced one of the biggest shocks in World Cup, and indeed international football history when they defeated Italy 1-0 to book their place in the quarter finals. The only comparable result is probably the USA’s victory over England in the 1950 finals. Italy were thoroughly humiliated, especially when it transpired that the North Korean team were made up of Army officers. An even bigger shock was on the cards in the last 8 when they led Portugal 3-0. Alas, a Eusebio inspired comeback resulted in a 5-3 win for Portugal. The only other noteworthy news regarding South Korea and the World Cup was during a World Cup qualifying match in 2005 when North Korean fans hurled missiles on the pitch after the referee failed to award them a penalty against Iran. They refused to allow the Iranian team bus to leave and riot police intervened.
Their qualification for this World Cup began with a 9-2 aggregate win over the might of Mongolia in the preliminary round. The first group stage saw them paired with arch-rivals and neighbors South Korea. The match between the pair, due to be played in Pyongyang, was switched to Shanghai after South Korean protests over North Korean plans to refuse to play the South Korean national anthem. Both their matches ended up 0-0 with North Korea qualifying after conceding no goals in their six group matches. Amazingly the feuding nations drew each other again in the final group stages. Once again, North Korea’s home match was played in Shanghai and again it was a draw, this time 1-1. The South finally got the upper hand with a 1-0 home win. Later, the North Korean coach claimed South Korean officials had poisoned his squad. They drew their final match away to Saudi Arabia and pipped the Gulf nation on goal difference to qualify for South Africa.
Judging by their qualifying results, North Korea seem like they won’t pose much of a threat. Matters have been made worse for them as they have been drawn against Brazil, Ivory Coast and Portugal in their group. It’s likely that their sole ambition in this competition is not to be cannon fodder for the other nations.