Hermit’s Worst Kept Secrets
North Korea’s Football Exports Worry South Ahead of Cup Qualifier
By Kim Tong-hyung
Staff Reporter
North Korea is perhaps the planet's most secretive regime at the moment, but football seems to be a rare area where the country is reaping the benefits of globalization.
The footballers of the Stalinist nation had long been overshadowed by their counterparts in the South, whose superb final-four run in the 2002 World Cup held in their backyard added a lavish jewel to decades of regional glory.
However, aided by the influence of talented young players playing professionally in Japan and Europe, North Korea now seems to be creating a ``golden generation" of its own, evidenced by their impressive draws against the South Koreans and Japan in the East Asian Football Championships last month.
The North Korean ascendance is certainly a concern for South Korea boss Huh Jung-moo who led his team to Shanghai Sunday to prepare for Wednesday's inter-Korean World Cup qualifier at Hongkou Stadium.
``I think we still are the better side in terms of individual talent, but the North Korea has so many players with pace and skill, which makes them dangerous on the counter attack," said Huh, talking to reporters at Incheon International Airport before departing for Shanghai.
``The form of our Europe-based players is another concern for us as they have been struggling to get regular time from their clubs. We can't afford to be anything less than in top shape in Shanghai," he said.
South Korea, looking for its seventh consecutive World Cup berth, is placed alongside North Korea, Jordan and Turkmenistan in the third stage of the Asian qualifying rounds and opened its campaign with a 4-0 drubbing of Turkmenistan last month. North Korea brings to Shanghai a 1-0 win over Jordan.
Jong, Hong Spearhead North Korean Attack
By summoning the country's top players in the English Premier League, including Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-sung and Tottenham defender Lee Young-pyo, Huh has established a core of veterans who give him his most talented squad since taking the coaching helm last December.
However, nobody is accusing Huh of fishing with dynamite when the North Koreans are looking so convincing as of late.
Topping Huh's concerns is Kawasaki Frontale striker Jong Tae-se, who scored a well-earned equalizer in the last meet between the two countries in the East Asian tourney.
South Korean defenders were tormented by Jong's immense strength, pace and skill throughout the game, and eventually conceded the lead to the 1.8-meter striker's finishing ability with the match ending 1-1.
Jong's equalizer well represented his quality as a football player, out-muscling two defenders to collect a punt at the edge of the box and perfectly timing a thunderbolt left-footer that shook the crossbar before dropping in.
Jong's scoring ability is hardly a secret, as the 24-year-old netted 12 goals in 24 league matches in Japan last season.
``He (Jong) is certainly a top quality attacker,'' said Vissel Kobe midfielder and South Korean captain Kim Nam-il, who played against Jong in a league match earlier this month.
``Our defenders will have to be aware of him for the whole 90 minutes," he said.
Jong looms more dangerous this time around as he will be supported by another potent attacker in Hong Young-jo, a striker for Serbia's FK Bezanija.
Hong, who missed out the East Asian championships, is regarded for his pace and set piece prowess, displayed in his free kick winner against Jordan, and is expected to start on the left flank with Jong placed as the lone striker.
Fleet-footed winger Mun In-guk is penciled as the starter on the right flank, and with Suwon Bluewings veteran Ahn Young-hak, the only North Korean playing professionally in the South, and Pak Nam-chol adding stability as a central midfield axis, North Korea certainly looks like a team with a puncher's chance.
``Hong adds another dimension to the North Korean attack and his accuracy in free kicks is certainly a concern,'' said Huh.