ISP Exclusive: Korea DPR analysis

Korea DPR in defence

Believe it or not but it could be said that Korea DPR has the strongest defence out of all the ten remaining teams. The North Koreans didn’t concede a single goal in the first group stage and to add to their two impressive away from home draws with the South Koreans (Korea DPR played their home game in China due to political reasons) the two teams also played out a 1-1 draw just months ago in the East Asian Cup.



What monster defenders does this team have one might ask, but the fact is that none of the Korea DPR defenders would take a spot in any of the big Asian teams. This team has been successful in defence mostly if not only due to its ultra defensive tactics. In no other continent we have seen such tactics being played out between two fairly equal teams but in Asia this was implemented by Bahrain four years ago and now, four years later, Korea DPR is trying to reach the World Cup with similar tactics.



Believe it or not but the North Koreans have been playing 5-4-1 and only defend in their own half. It is strictly forbidden for them to defend in the opposition’s half when playing away. These simple but previously "never" seen ultra defensive tactics were the biggest key to the teams’ success in the first group stage. Heck, these simple tactics will be their key to reaching the 2010 World Cup. On top of these tactics, North Korea has a team full of super disciplined players, who give the opposition no chances to play on individual mistakes, and you don’t see the slight laziness in their defensive roles (which is seen in more or less all other teams).

It is also impressive that the team’s two star strikers/players (only Jong Tae Sae plays in a striker role) participate in the team’s defensive work as if they would be defensive minded players. Jong Tae Sae, lone striker for the team, scored seven out of fourteen goals when North Korea qualified for the East Asian Cup 2008. In the tournament he scored both against a strong Japan and a strong South Korea side, and scored two out of the team’s three goals in the three matches. Though watching the Kawasaki striker defending you would think he’s going to have no air left to breathe for attack. Hong Yong-Jo is the other star player in the team and his work rate in defence is just as impressive as Jong Tae Sae’s. By Asian standard, Hong is a brilliant dribbler and can cause trouble for any defence due to his pace and technique. However, like all the other players, Hong is given a very defensive role and plays a lot in left midfield but also in central midfield. Playing Karimi, Nakamura, Park Chu-Young or Malek Maaz in the defensive left midfield role that Hong has played probably wouldn’t work, but Hong has accepted this and does it well.



The first picture that I’ve captured is from the World Cup qualifier between Korea DPR and South Korea. Korea DPR play in red and the player with yellow shoes closest to Korea DPR goal is Jong Tae Sae who together with all his team-mates is starting their defence in their own half. The second picture illustrates the 5-4-1 that Korea DPR play, their most offensive player in the picture is Hong who played left midfielder in this game and hasn’t fully run back after their last ball possession (doesn’t happen very often that he leaves that space on the wing, but South Korea only had one fullback that participated in attack through out the game and that was Lee Young-Pyo on the left side). The third picture is similar to the previous one, a tight back five, a minimal gap between the defence line and their keeper, and between the defence and midfield (this is natural for them since they only start defending in their own half). The fourth and the fifth pictures are taken from the East Asian Cup game between Korea DPR and South Korea. The North Koreans played 4-5-1 in that game too with the same tactics as they later had in the first World Cup qualifying game between the two. The two pictures are from 1.45 and 1.46 minutes into the game and the white-circled South Korean player has just had possession of the ball. The back five and the four midfielders in front of them are illustrated.



Korea DPR in attack

Iran, Saudi Arabia and South Korea need to focus on how to crack up the Korea DPR defence. The Koreans struggle once they have possession of the ball because they have a long way to go to reach the opposition half and they try to do it with very few players. Roughly speaking, Korea DPR defends with eleven players but only attacks with three. Striker Jong Tae Sae, left midfielder Hong Yong-Jo and right midfielder Mun In Guk are ordered to do it by themselves in attack. The two central midfielders are not often seen in the opposition penalty box nor are they creating any scoring chances for their team-mates. The two fullbacks do support the midfield when given a chance, but that’s about it, their focus is on defending. We should only talk about formations in defence and not when teams are attacking but if we would, Korea DPR would look like they were playing 3-4-3 in attack if both fullbacks dare to join midfield (often they don’t and it looks like a 5-2-3), as both wingers do their best to support their lone striker. The team’s defensive tactics are the main reason to why they have only scored four goals in their six group matches.



The sixth picture is once again taken from the Korea derby in the East Asian Cup 2008. Korea DPR has just had a goal kick and their five defenders and their two central midfielders are still keeping their defensive positions. The three attacking players have moved up and will more or less have to attack by themselves. The next picture is taken from the first World Cup qualifying game between the two Koreans and it’s the same situation as it was in the previous picture. We can see that the Korea DPR players are having more or less the exact same position in pictures six and seven. Note that the two fullbacks are showing zero interest to help the team in attack although the team is having possession of the ball. In the last picture we can see the two Korea DPR fullbacks join midfield and the two wingers join their lone striker.



Iran vs Korea DPR on October 15 2008

Korea DPR is likely to use the same tactics away to Iran as they did away to South Korea. Iran coach Daei will probably see that the Koreans leave no space behind their defence but just some in front of their two fullbacks. Daei will also see that the Koreans play with three central defenders and two defensive central midfielders in front of them.

I believe Iran needs to have clear tactics and good preparation practice sessions focusing on how to score against the defensive Koreans. The goals will not come by themselves just ask the South Koreans.



Using Milad Meydavoudi as lone striker in this match would be my last solution. Milad as lone striker would have a very tough time between three big central defenders and he would find no space either behind or in front of the defence. My opinion is that Milad would have a tough time even playing beside Hashemian in a 4-4-2 and that goes for Gholamreza Rezaei, Khalatbari and Khatibi too. Daei will have to carefully pick from a 4-4-2 and a 4-5-1 which in reality will become a 4-3-3 because Iran will only be attacking, at least until they take the lead. South Korea has failed miserably with their 4-3-3/4-5-1 tactics and Iran could fall into the same trap. The South Koreans had one lone striker playing between three central defenders, they had two offensive wingers who were very tightly marked (often even man-to-man) by the opposition fullbacks (Korea DPR dare to man-to-man mark because they know they have a 3 on 1 behind them) and a three on two advantage on central midfield which is very hard to have use of due to the minimal spaces between the Korea DPR defence and midfield & midfield and forward. If Daei takes knowledge from the failures of the South Koreans he could choose 4-4-2 with two Hashemians upfront. Iran will then focus on getting the ball to its two wingers, behind the Korea DPR wingers, and pour in crosses into the box for the two Hashemians, the opposite winger and one of the two central midfielders. Iran should focus on sending in early crosses and not try to dribble past the Korean fullbacks, because the Koreans sit low and Iran will be getting good crossing possession without getting past the fullbacks and risk losing possession of the ball. Now since Iran doesn’t have two Vahid Hasemian this will be somewhat of a headache. Reza Enayati was a favourite of Ghalenoei but has never convinced anyone about his spot in the national team. To me Taghipour is also a realistic option, due to being maybe strongest in the air out of all Iranian players, if not from start as a substitute.

To complete such tactics Daei needs to have two wingers on each side that are good in crossing the ball into the box, from each of their side. The two wingers should then be supported by two fullbacks who can do the same and who will want to overlap the wingers. Finally Iran should have one central midfielder who is good in the air (and long distance shots) and will be attacking the opposition box for the crosses. To me Hajsafi is possibly the best option for left wing and Mahdavikia is for one of the two positions on the right side. Nekounam obviously is well suited for the offensive midfield position.

However, have in mind that such tactics are suited for breaking down the Koreans, once that is done the game could change in many ways and the Koreans could be changing tactics. Iran must change a few things themselves once they take the lead.

Finally, head coach Daei could solely look at his own team and pick what he believes is the best eleven and draws the tactics based from that. The Koreans might not at all play as they have done earlier and Daei could just believe that Iran is a lot stronger than the Koreans and should beat them no matter how they play. If this happens, some might fear for yet another goalless draw for Iran on home soil.