DPRK - First Asia, next the world ( 2003-09-17 21:45) (fifaworldcup.com)
Despite Democratic People’s
Republic of Korea’s dominance of the AFC Women’s Championship since 2001, the
Asian side remain virtual unknowns outside their region. But with another
impressive victory over China in this summer’s continental tournament, nobody is
taking them lightly.
7
RI Kum Suk Birth Date: 16 August
1978 Height: 170 (cm)
Weight: 63 (kg) Position: FW Current Club: Sobaeksu (PRK) Int'l Goals: 40 Int'l Caps: 65
In their only previous appearance in the FIFA
Women’s World Cup at USA 1999, a young North Korean side raised a few eyebrows
in their opening match by defeating a solid Denmark outfit 3-1. However,
consecutive defeats to hosts USA (0-3) and Nigeria (1-2) consigned them to an
early exit.
The rest of the world has seen little of them
since.
Head coach Ri Song Gun recently surprised the global football
community by boldly declaring, "We are determined to win the World Cup in
2003."
While most may view Ri's optimism with a sceptical eye, those that
have come to grips with her team recently will tell you that North Korea could
very well turn out to be the surprise package at this year’s finals.
Even
in Asia, North Korea are a little-known team. Aside from the Asian Games held
once every four years and the AFC Women’s Championship every other year, North
Korea have appeared in very few matches. But, despite their shy reputation, they
have popped up to beat China in both 2001 and 2003 AFC Women’s Championships as
well as the 2002 Asian Games.
Women’s football in Asia was largely
dominated by Chinese Taipei, China and Japan up until 1993, when North Korea
first upset the apple cart by reaching the final of the AFC Women’s
Championship. China proved too strong in the final, but that run nonetheless
marked the beginning of a steady ascendancy in Asian women’s
football.
The next time DPR Korea threatened China’s hegemony was at the
1997 AFC Women’s Championship in Guangdong, China. Their dynamic, determined
playing style had taken shape by now, and their quick penetrative counterattacks
were the revelation of the tournament. They swept aside all before them, until
Liu Ailing scored two brilliant goals in the final, and China ran out 3-0
victors.
At the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok, they posed even more of a
challenge and China were grateful to Fan Yunjie for a brilliant winning header
in extra time.
The breakthrough against their northern neighbours came at
the 2001 AFC Women’s Championship in Chinese Taipei, in a 3-1 semi-final
victory. That win brought to an end China’s seven consecutive triumphs at the
tournament, and it allowed the Koreans to lift the trophy, after defeating Japan
in the final.
DPR Korea like to sit back and hit teams on the break.
Their lightning fast counters usually end up with the ball at the feet of either
Jin Pyol Hui or Ri Kum-suk. They are a menace for any defence and wrought havoc
in the 2003 AFC Women’s Championship. Ri Kum-suk tallied a remarkable 15 times,
including a brace in the victory over China that handed them another
trophy.
The sudden rise of DPR Korea has been aided by their national
women’s football league. According to head coach Ri Song Gun, the country
currently has a 12-team domestic championship, and the national team can be
quickly assembled whenever needed.
Successive wins against one of the
world’s top teams have given the Koreans a huge confidence boost ahead of this
autumn’s footballing extravaganza. Ri Song Gun asserts, “Our goal is to win the
World Cup. We look forward to showing the world the quality of North Korean
women’s football.
