“Usually when there are 30 pictures within the sport, it's the USA with about 25 of 'em. Not right now!”
It wasn't simply the ESPN commentator who was shocked.
Heather O'Reilly had scored the sport's closing aim, dragging world quantity ones and two-time champions United States to a 2-2 draw of their opening match on the 2007 Ladies's World Cup.
O'Reilly wasn't shocked by the scoreline although. Or how evenly-fought the sport was. She knew it could be robust.
As a substitute, as the ultimate whistle blew, it was the perspective of the US's opponents, who noticed an opportunity missed, somewhat than a degree gained, that struck her.
“I keep in mind North Korea seeming dissatisfied,” says O'Reilly.
“Their physique language appeared to say ‘oh my gosh, we had been so near taking down the enormous'.”
North Korea is the world's most remoted nation, a state based mostly across the infallibility of Supreme Chief Kim Jong-un and a deep suspicion of the surface world.
But, regardless of residing requirements being nicely behind most different nations, North Korea has been one of many strongest feminine soccer nations on the planet.
After they took on the USA in 2007, they had been ranked fifth on this planet and amid a run of three Asian titles within the house of a decade.
Their report at youth stage is even higher. In 2016, they received the U20 Ladies's World Cup, defeating Spain, the USA and France within the knockout rounds. That very same 12 months, their under-17 group additionally lifted their age-grade World Cup.
“The sport in 2007 was difficult, actually tremendous onerous,” remembers O'Reilly of her assembly with North Korea's senior facet. “It was onerous to get the ball off them, they had been buzzing round, very fast.”
There was one other problem although, one which was distinctive to North Korea.
“It was simply such a cloud of uncertainty,” says O'Reilly. “The movie we had on them was very restricted, even by the usual of the instances.
“Each time we performed North Korea, it was all the time a thriller.”
The thriller now's, after a doping controversy and a four-year absence from worldwide soccer, can North Korea's girls be a power as soon as once more?
