North Korea’s national team, the Chollima gets its name from a mythical 1000 mile long horse
A 2-1 scoreline is not one would expect from the 1st ranked team over the 105th team.
The North Koreans refused to be overawed by Brazil, football’s superpower, and five time winners of the World Cup. The Chollima showed plenty of skill and grit.
Their leader KIm Jong Il maybe the most inscrutable man in the world but his team showed a very human side; Jong Tae-Se, their “Wayne Rooney” weeping bucketloads during their national anthem. In fact, they just bought themselves a shipload of goodwill with their plucky display.
Initially the Brazilians were quite effective, hoping to catch the defense napping with their speed and ball movement. Robinho, Kaka, and Elano had their chances. But the Koreans relying on a a catenaccio soon snuffed out any coherence as Kaka became more wayward and Robinho ineffectual. Soon they were winning the 50-50s and bumping the Brazilians off their stride.
The first half became anyone’s guess as the Koreans grew increasingly venturesome, confident in their defense frustrating the Brazilians. Jong Tae-Se sweeping imperiously down the left flank caused Maicon and Lucio all sorts of problems with his speed and ability to cut in. He got past Maicon and sped down to the goal area but his shot went sailing past the far post. In fact, after the initial flurry, the only Brazilian highlight came towards the end of the first half, Maicon’s long range effort knocked away by Ri Myong-guk.
The second half showed the Brazilian wingbacks Miguel Bastos and Maicon leading the attack with Robinho more centrally positioned.
10 minutes into the second half Brazil finally managed to break the logjam when Robinho in the center finding Kaka open, switched point of attack. The Real Madrid midfielder held the ball releasing to the streaking Maicon who took it all the way and from an impossibly tight angle lashed a shot with the outside of his right foot as the ball curled past Ri into goal. It was a no fluke. Body mechanics show a well calculated shot.
Brazil added another beauty in the 72nd minute as Robinho taking over Kaka as creative controller zipped a pass past four defenders as Elano cutting in finds the ball and angles it past Ri. It was 2-0 and the floodgates were about to open. Or so everyone thought.
Somehow the Koreans weathered the storm and in the 87th minute, Ji Yun-nam, their left back burst into the box and bulling his way past two defenders struck a perfectly angled shot for a stunning goal. Their chutzpah did not end there as they pressed hard for an equalizer. Yun-nam’s goal was the only goal shown in Pyongyang which probably believes they won. In some sense, they did.
This is why the North Koreans will be a nightmare for Portugal and the Ivory Coast. Their last appearance in the World Cup was 44 years ago. They have a bus emblazoned with 1966 to spur on memories of that glorious English summer. All point to a ” they will not go gentle into that good night.”