28 February 2010

Chile calls off friendlies after earthquake

SANTIAGO, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Chile has called of next week’s double bill of friendlies against Costa Rica and North Korea after the massive earthquake which hit the country in the early hours of Saturday.

“Football cannot remain indifferent to the catastrophe which has hit our country and certainly not to the pain and tragedy of thousands of Chileans,” soccer federation president Harold Mayne-Nicholls said on his organisation’s website (www.anfp.cl).

The players said in a statement: “At this moment, it is more important to look after the country’s urgent necessities. There will be time for football.”

In a highly unusual move, Chile, who have qualified for their first World Cup since 1998, were due to host Costa Rica and North Korea on the same evening at the National Stadium.

Both of Wednesday’s matches were listed as full internationals by governing body FIFA with coach Marcelo Bielsa saying he wanted to observe as many places as possible.

Reuters

Chile match cancelled or moved ?

North Korea`s away match against Chile on 3rd March is possibly cancelled or moved to Uruguay after the earthquake in Chile.

27 February 2010

North Korea win AFC Challenge Cup !

North Korea won AFC Challenge Cup final after a dramatic match against Turkmenistan.

North Korea got a red card in 33. minute and Turkmenistan scored in 34. minute, but North Korea equalized in 76. minute.

No goals in extra time and North Korea won 5-4 on PK`s.

Congratulations with AFC Challenge Cup win and Asian Cup spot !

Match report from afc.com

Last chance for DPR Korea`s World Cup hopefuls to impress

COLOMBO: Free-kick specialist Pak Song-chol and vibrant mid-fielder Ryang Yong-gi might have enhanced their chances of appearing in this summer’s FIFA World Cup if DPR Korea coach Jo Tong-sop’s conviction that “five or six” players in the squad playing at the AFC Challenge Cup in Colombo could be bound for South Africa.

“There are five or six players we are looking at for the World Cup and from what I have seen of them at this tournament, they have a very good chance of making our World Cup squad,” said Jo who is also an assistant coach with the DPR Korea senior national side.

Jo refused to reveal the names of the World Cup probables, but he has consistently praised the efforts of Pak and Ryang, who have been two of the more outstanding players in the team which has breezed into the final of the AFC Challenge Cup against Turkmenistan on February 27.

Pak, 22, has produced superlative performances regularly. His playmaking abilities coupled with his precision dead ball capability has made him one of the front runners for the MVP title at this eight-team tournament.

Pak’s stunning 30-yard free kick against Myanmar – a powerful drive after the ball had been rolled into his path and quite unlike the curling effort that stymied the Indian wall – was applauded by Jo.

Ryang, meanwhile, has been one of the most industrious players on the park and has been at the centre of DPR Korea’s creative build-ups which has left opponents foxed. His two goals against India was outstanding and like Pak, he has been one of the hubs of the team.

Other candidates who could fall into Jo’s reckoning could include defenders Pak Yong-jin and Ri Kwang-hyok and forward Choe Chol-man.

“All these players (on my radar) have done well. They all have an opportunity to go for the World Cup,” Jo said.

DPR Korea has two squads in training right now for the World Cup. One is the team in Asia and being represented at the AFC Challenge Cup. The other is in Europe. The World Cup squad is expected to be named in April.

As far as the AFC Challenge Cup is concerned DPR Korea has been in a class of its own. They have demolished all teams – Kyrgyzstan 4-0, India 3-0, and Myanmar 5-0. The only team to give them a semblance of a fight was Turkmenistan who in the first group game held on to a 1-1 draw.

“That was our first match in Colombo. We had just arrived after a long flight and we were tired and not used to the hot and humid conditions here. But now we have acclimatised. It will be a different result in the final,” promised Jo.

the-afc.com

24 February 2010

North Korea ready for AFC Challenge Cup final

North Korea beat Myanmar 5-0 in semifinals of AFC Challenge Cup in Sri Lanka.

They meet Turkmenistan in the final. Winner get a spot in Asian Cup 2011

Match report

23 February 2010

North Korea's Hitman Jong Tae-Se Gunning For Goals And Last 16 Spot In South Africa

North Korea striker Jong Tae-se is hoping to score the goals in South Africa that will take his team into the second round of the 2010 World Cup and has called on his team-mates to have faith.


The 1966 World Cup quarter-finalists have been drawn in a tough group with Brazil, Portugal and Ivory Coast and few fans give them much hope of progressing to the last 16.


Jong, who plays for top Japan club Kawasaki Frontale, is one of the most feared strikers in East Asia.


Nicknamed ‘The People’s Rooney’, the 25 year-old wants to show the world what he can do and earn a move to Europe.


“Our target is to make it through the group stage though I think that it is a difficult group,” said Jong to the South Korean media.


“If we don’t believe that we can win then we won’t win. If we believe that we can do it, then we can.”


“A striker should score every game. There are no easy opponents but if I can score against them then I can get a reputation as an international striker.


Jong kicks off the World Cup with a match against Brazil and he can’t wait.

goal.com

21 February 2010

North Korea in AFC Challenge Cup semifinals

North Korea beat India U23 , 3-0 today in AFC Challenge Cup.

North Korea face Myanmar in semifinals.

Match report

Match summary

19 February 2010

North Korea beat Kyrgyzstan

North Korea beat Kyrgyzstan 4-0 in AFC Challenge Cup today.


Afc.com match report and match summary


Last group match will be against India U23 on Sunday.

17 February 2010

North Korea Women`s NT losing to Germany

Germany won 3-0 in the friendly against North Korea`s Women`s NT in Germany.

Half time result was 2-0

North Korea drew Turkmenistan

North Korea drew Turkmenistan 1-1 in the first match in AFC Challenge Cup in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Ryang Yong Gi scored for North Korea in second half.

Match report from afc.com

Match summary

AFC Challenge Cup team

AFC Challenge Cup team for North Korea :

1 RI KANG 1 GK
2 JU KWANG MIN 20 GK
3 RYANG MYONG IL 2 DF
4 KIM MYONG GYU 3 DF
5 PAK YONG JIN 14 DF
6 KIM KWANG HYOK 15 DF
7 JON KWANG IK 16 DF
8 KIM SONG GI 18 DF
9 PAK NAM CHOL 23 DF
10 RI KWANG HYOK 28 DF
11 PAK SONG CHOL 9 MF
12 SIN YONG NAM 12 MF
13 YUN YONG IL 17 MF
14 KIM KUK JIN 21 MF
15 KIM WON SIK 22 MF
16 RI CHOL MYONG 24 MF
17 CHOE MYONG HO 25 MF
18 RYANG YONG GI 29 MF
19 KIM SONG YONG 5 FW
20 CHOE CHOL MAN 10 FW
21 PAK CHOL MIN 11 FW
22 PAK KWANG RYONG 13 FW
23 CHAE TU YONG 19 FW

Note number 3 from Chengdu Blades (China), number 14 from Wil, Switzerland , number 17 from Krylia Sovetov (Russia), number 18 from Vegalta Sendai (Japan) and number 19 from Kyotu Sanga FC.

First match against Turkmenistan this Wednesday.

Kyrgyzstan on 19th and India on 21.

16 February 2010

DPR Korea eye AFC Challenge Cup title

COLOMBO: Coach Jo Tong-sop has called on his DPR Korea side to match their World Cup qualification success with victory in the AFC Challenge Cup to secure a berth at next year's AFC Asian Cup.

DPR Korea kick-off their Group B campaign against Turkmenistan at Sugathadasa Stadium on Wednesday looking to better their 2008 semi-final appearance.

Jo can count on a handful of players that are likely to be part of the DPR Korea squad in South Africa later this year although his assembled group is much younger than the one who beat Turkmenistan during their successful World Cup qualifying campaign.

“The others teams are aiming to qualify for the Asian Cup and we also want to qualify,” said Jo.

“We have five or six players who I would expect to be in the squad for the World Cup, but the majority of the squad we have in Colombo is aged under-23.

“We have experience of Turkmenistan in third round of the World Cup qualifiers and we know they have a lot of power and will be very serious about getting the three points just like us.”


afc.com

13 February 2010

Sven-Goran Eriksson in North Korea

Story in Guardian about Sven-Goran Eriksson`s trip to North Korea.

Guardian

Eriksson left Notts Couny now, will he get another offer from North Korea ?

North Korea Women`s NT against Germany

North Korean Women`s NT will play a friendly against German Women`s NT in Duisburg , on Wednesday 17. February.

The match will be shown live in German TV ARD. Match start 16.30.

10 February 2010

Venezuela friendly on 6. March

Venezuela friendly for 6. March has been confirmed now. The match will be played in Puerto De la Cruz.

Matches in Americas

3. March against Chile
6. March against Venezuela
17. March against Mexico

08 February 2010

Greece friendly on 25. May

Another good friendly is confirmed , this time against Greece on 25. May in Europe, probably Switzerland.

Novasports

05 February 2010

Mexico friendly !

Another friendly been organized for North Korean Men`s NT.

North Korea face Mexico on 17. March in Mexico report Mexican media.

Link :


This is the second friendly in March, a match against Chile on 3. March is already confirmed.

A third friendly against Venezuela , probably on 6. March could be confirmed soon.

04 February 2010

North Korea News from AFC.com

"Kim Jung-hoon’s men recently finished a training camp in Antalya, Turkey, during which the Chollima played five matches."


"For the AFC Challenge Cup (February 16-27 in Sri Lanka), a reserve side will represent DPR Korea. This squad, under coach Cho Dong-sub, mainly comprises players from the u-17 team which made a great impression in the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Cup. There are three Japan-based members in this group."


For the main team, March will be a busy month with dates being decided for a camp in Chile, Venezuela and Panama.

Come May, the scene shifts to Germany and Switzerland where Kim is expected to put his men through the paces again.

The DPR Koreans hit the home stretch in May-June with a lengthy spell of training in Zimbabwe before moving to South Africa for the tournament proper.

AFC link

03 February 2010

FIFA World Ranking

New FIFA World ranking today :

Korea DPR up 1 to number 85