World Cup Preview - Group G - North Korea
Nickname: “Choilima”FIFA ranking: 105th
Coach: Kim Jong-Hun.
Game Schedule:
June 15 – North Korea vs. Brazil (Port Elizabeth, 2:30 p.m. EST, ESPN)
June 21 – North Korea vs. Portugal (Cape Town, 7:30 p.m., ESPN)
June 25 – North Korea vs. Ivory Coast (Nelspruit, 10 a.m., ESPN2)
Prospects: Alright, I'll be honest - I know nothing about this side. But I did read a hilarious story about them the other. Apparently, the Korea DPR coach Kim Jong-Hun thought that it would clever clever to try to punk FIFA by listing only two goalkeepers in their final squad of 23 in order to add an extra striker. FIFA generally take a dim view toward this kind of second-rate Stalinist chicanery and have told the North Koreans that the player in question, Pak Sung-Hyok, will be allowed to play...in goal! Lovely.
Key Player: Striker Hong Yong-Jo is one of the few North Korean players to play outside of his home country, albeit for FC Rostov in Russia.
Youngster to watch: 23 year old goalkeeper Ri Myong-Guk should be fun to watch.
Who Will Get the Goals: Goals? You're having a laugh!
Who Will Get the Cards: 22 year old Ri Jun-Il apparently marshals the defense. Wow!
Funniest Name: Kim Kum-Il - nice ring to it.
Prediction: Look, if the Brazilians don't put ten past them in the opener, they really aren't trying. Three and out.
posted by The Blue Devil @ 9:12 PM
2 Comments:
I certainly am not predicting that the Choilima have any chance at all, but I bet that there won't be any cricket scorelines either.
So far, they're pretty tight defensively and they look like they're not even trying to score on the break. They've set out their defensive stall, all right, but what kind of strategy they're likely to employ to get goals is a mystery.
I'm going to be glued to the first match because I'm really curious about these guys.
I agree with Gooner. The North Koreans might score one goal, but their Priority is to keep the score close. In similar situations, Brazil defeated New Zealand 4-0 in 1982 and China 4-0 in 2002. I would predict a similar score when Brazil plays the North Koreans. I do not predict a repeat of 1966. The match against Portugal is a rematch of the 1966 quarterfinal where Portugal came from 0-3 down to win 5-3. I predict a more defensive encounter this time with the Portugese winning 2-0.
Post a Comment
<< Home