North Korea

Confederation: AFC(Aisa)
Head coach: Kim Jong-Hun
Captain: Hong Yong-Jo
Group: H


This will be North Korea's 2nd World Cup in their footballing history, the famous year of 1966 was their first World Cup adventure. In 1966, they managed to reach the quarter-finals and cause a massive upset by knocking out Italy in the second round. Already North Korea have been involved in controversy, they tried to cheat the squad system by registering striker Kim Myong-Won as their 3rd goalkeeper. FIFA have made it clear that Kim Myong-Won must not feature outfield.

Only 3 of the 23 man squad play their football outside of North Korea. Captain and star man Hong Yong-Jo plays for Russian side FC Rostov and has 11 goals in 41 caps for North Korea. Hong Yong-Jo's strike partner Jong Ta-Se A.K.A ‘North Korea's Rooney’ has boldly predicted that his country will make the second round. They are in group F, which is year's 'Group of Death, Brazil, Portugal and Ivory Coast accompany North Korea.

If North Korea are to reach the knockout stage, they will have to pull off some miraculous results and produce one of the most shocking moments in World Cup history.

Squad:

Kim Myong-gil, Kim Myong-won (both Amrokgang), Ri Myong-guk (Pyongyang City); An Chol-hyok (Rimyongsu), An Yong-hak (Omiya Ardija), Cha Jong-hyok (Amrokgang), Choe Kum-chol (April 25), Hong Yong-jo (FK Rostov), Ji Yun-nam (April 25), Jong Tae-se (Kawasaki Frontale), Kim Hum-il (April 25), Kim Kyong-il (Rimyongsu), Kim Yong-jun (Pyongyang City), Mun In-guk, Nam Song-chol (both April 25), Pak Chol-jin (Amrokgang), Pak Nam-chol (April 25), Pak Nam-chol (Amrokgang), Pak Sung-hyok (Sobaeksu), Ri Chol-myong (Pyongyang City), Ri Jun-il (Sobaeksu), Ri Kwang-chon (April 25), Ri Kwang-hyok (Kyonggongop).



Ant Myers