'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
DPR Korea is a touchy topic in the modern day, and it showed yesterday at the country's U17 national team's pre-match press conference. When questioned about their leader Kim Jong-un and how he motivated the team before they headed to India, the coach and the captain left the press conference abruptly without answering on the topic.
However, a lot more happened before the interaction session ended, as DPR Korea U17s' coach and captain opened up on the team's chances ahead of their FIFA U17 World Cup opener.
DPR Korea are clubbed in group D along with the strong favourites Brazil, Spain and the giant killer Niger, who qualified for the tournament winning against the current FIFA U17 World Cup champions Nigeria. On Saturday, the North Koreans will face Niger who will their first appearance in U-17 World Cup.
Coach Kim Yong-su and captain Yun Min were present at the press conference ahead of the clash against Niger. The Koreans qualified for the World Cup after having a confident performance in U-16 AFC Championship and are confident of having a winning start in India. Coach Kim Young- Su said, "The first match is the most important one, the result will reflect in the performance of the remaining two matches in the group." They aim to qualify for the round of 16 in the tournament.
DPR Korea had seven friendlies before coming to India, and all the seven matches were against local clubs in North Korea and against of higher age category players.
With Brazil and Spain in the group, DPR Korea know that it will be difficult for them to qualify to the next round, but coach Kim remains upbeat: "Nobody can predict the result of the matches to be played; the match against Niger is a must win match and we are preparing hard for it."
Furthermore, he said that in the AFC U-16 Championship the teams were almost of the same quality as of Korea so they focused on attack mainly but in the World Cup, they have to face Brazil and Spain so they have to focus more on defence and counter attack.
Midfielders Kye Tam and Kim Pom-hyok had a crucial role to play in the U-16 AFC Championship last year, and the team hope to have a similar impact in India with the striker Ri Kang-guk leading the attack.
The coach and the players were happy with the warm hospitality of the people in India and were proud to represent the country.
