DPRK football team participated for the 1st time
in the 2010 world cup in South Africa, since it did like that in the year 1966.
The Team coach of the DPRK squad was punished because of poor results in the
tournament. The players were punished by the government of DPRK as well. This
is astonishing but it is a fact and it
happened. The team coach was forced to become the builder while the players
were forced to work in the mines. Perhaps this will serve as a motivation to
ply so hard next time they participate in such great tournament. Is such a treatment
humanly? This DPRK government looks so strict on sports matters especially in
football world cup.
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| The DPRK squad in 2010 world cup in South Africa |
North Korea surprised with a good showing at their World Cup
debut, reaching the quarter-finals in 1966, beating Italy in the group stage.
In the past DPRK players in all games together with their
coaches were sent to prison if they didn’t get so called better results. The
team coach apart from being forced to become a builder, was also expelled out
of the Worker’s Party.
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| DPRK kits |
In the AFC Asian Cup in January 2011 The DPRK team were
defeated by Iran 1-0, then again defeated by Iraq 1-0 again. When it played
against UAE the results were a goalless draw.
The North Korea team was the first Asian team to progress
beyond the first round of the World Cup finals
In the 4 international friendly matches from January 2011
till june 2011 DPRK team won only one match. This was between DPRK and Bahrain.
DPRK team won by 1-0. When it played with China and Iraq it wasdefeated. With
China the result was 2-0 on favour of the Chinese team. With Iraq DPRK was
defeated by 2 goals to nil. The only 1-1 draw was in the clash between DPRK and
Jordan.
The North Koreans won 7 and drew 3 in the 2012 season,
making it the most successful year in its football history.
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| DPRK team in one of their practice sessions. |
In April 2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualification, the DPRK team
came out with a very nice score sheet. It won its match against Sri Lanka by
4-0. It then won its game with Nepal by 1-0. DPRK won its game with Afghanistan
by 2-0. These were very good results compared to 2010 world cup matches. Was
the punishment given to them after 2010 bad performance a motivation factor?
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| DPRK vs Brazil in 2010 world cup |
The biggest win ever up to now in DPRK matches was the match
against Guam. The match was played in March
11, 2005 in Taipei, Taiwan. The result was 21-0 on favour of DPRK team. The
biggest defeat is the one happened when the team played with Portugal- June 21,
2010 in 2010 World cup.
The current DPRK squad consists of 4 players who play their
football outside DPRK. One in FC Basel in Switzerland, one in Kashiwa Reysol in Japan, and 2 of them in Muang Thong united
in Thailand.
