Korea DPR seemingly came from nowhere to storm into the Asian Zone’s final round of qualifying, where they defied sizeable odds to take one of the continent’s four automatic spots at the 2010 World Cup.
In a sense they lived up to their long-standing reputation as Asia’s surprise package; their qualifying success marking a return to world football’s top table for the first time since going all the way to the last eight in 1966.
The road to South Africa
To reach the 2010 showpiece, Korea DPR went through a 20-month qualifying campaign. They beat Mongolia in the Asian Zone’s first qualifying round, and finished second in their group behind Korea Republic to qualify for the final round.
There they got off to a brilliant start by defeating UAE and drawing Korea Republic. Despite losing to Iran they bounced back and needed just a point in their final game to qualify.
Star players
Two-thirds of the squad come from domestic clubs, though their small overseas-based contingent is a vital cog in the Korean machine. FC Rostov’s Hong Yong-Jo was in lethal form up front alongside Jong Tae-Se.
The coach
Coach Kim Jong-Hun was only ten-years-old when the Chollima made history at England 1966. Now, 43 years on, he was the man who guided them back to the pinnacle of world soccer. Given his squad largely consists of domestic-based players lacking in international experience, the strategist favours a pragmatic and defensive approach based around discipline and teamwork.
Facts
- Korea DPR reached the last eight in their last and only previous appearance at the finals of a World Cup. — Fifa