Korea DPR ready for Spain in quarter finals (Post Courier 22/11/16)

Korea DPR celebrating a goal during the FIFA U20 Womens World Cup 

Picture by Post Courier Photographer Mark Talia

By FIDELIS SUKINA

Korea DPR is favorites coming into the first qualifying match against Spain on November 24th 2016 at the National Football Stadium.

Spain is coming off a loss to Nigeria in the group stage, and is into the quarter finals on goal difference.

They are looking to improve as they take one of the favorites in the tournament. Spain came in with a point to prove in the FIFA U20 Womens World Cup.

They have never been at the world stage in the U20 Womens level and their journey from their loss in the final against Sweden in the UEFA Women’s U-19 Championship in Israel in July 2015, was no mistake.

They entered the tournament with a talented side that proved a handful for Canada who lost to them 5-0 and their win against one of the favorites Japan 1-0 sent alarm bells to the falconets but their momentum stopped thanks to the falconets and their 2-1 win over them.

Korea DPR is a force to reckon with, they have had succession of finals appearances since the team entered into their first FIFA U20 Womens World Cup in 2006.

They dominated Pool A with their disciplined ball handling and confident passing that saw Sweden and Brazil fall victim to them in their pool matches they finally kept their best for last beating Papua New Guinea 7-1.

Korea DPR coach Yong bong Hwang was always quietly confident about his team during the tournament, he kept on saying the girls always grew too excited in the opening half but were always improving in the second half.

Spain maybe the underdog but they posses four players that can produce a solid performance Nahikari Garcia, Pilar Garrote, Sandra Hernandez and Rocio Galvez have been the base of Spains growth in the junior level in the U17 through to the current U20 Womens team.

It will be up to Spain to stop Korea DPR forward KIM So Hyang who is currently on four goals in the tournament she was on the bench against Papua New Guinea and was injected into the match in the 20th minute which saw her score a hat trick to lead her team to a 7-0 thumping of PNG.