Entrance to Kim Il Sung Stadium, Pyongyang, photo by John Pavelka (Flickr)

Japan’s long reign as UFWC champions came to an end today in Pyongyang, as North Korea became the new unofficial football world champions. Midfielder Nam Chol Pak was the hero for the North Koreans, who fought hard for a deserved victory against an admittedly weakened Japan side. North Korea, ranked just 124th in the world by FIFA, become one of the most unlikely unofficial champions in UFWC history, proving that anything can happen over the course of 90 minutes.

This World Cup qualifier looked like something of a “dead rubber”, with Japan already through to the next qualifying stage, and North Korea already eliminated. However, the UFWC title was very much at stake, as was a good deal of pride, with relations between these two nations historically set to “frosty”. There were 50,000 people inside the Kim Il Sung Stadium, many of them army and public workers. Less than of them were Japanese fans. The stadium’s plastic pitch provided an unfamiliar surface for most of the Japanese players, too.

Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni made a host of changes for the match. Kawashima, Uchida, Yoshida, Endo, Havenaar and Kagawa were all left out from the team that started against Tajikistan, and in came Nishikawa, Kurihara, Inoha, Hosogai, Kiyotake, and Maeda. Only Komano, Konno, Hasebe, Nakamura and Okazaki kept their places.

North Korea immediately attempted to take advantage of Japan’s weakened team, with a quick shot deflected just wide for a corner. Japan-born North Korean superstar Jong Tae-se, known as “the People’s Rooney” (and known as Chong Tese in Germany, where he plays for VfL Bochum), was involved in much of the Korean play, and he forced Shusaku Nishikawa into a save on six minutes, his shot pushed wide of the post.

North Korea’s early dominance clearly shook Zaccheroni, who called captain Makoto Hasebe over for some frantic instructions midway through the first half. And, although North Korea continued to dominate, the team suffered a huge blow with the withdrawal of an apparently injured Jong Tae-se. He was replaced by Pak Song-Chol.

Japan at least ended the first half on a positive note, with a good shot from Hasebe, but the match was goalless at the break.

The second half began with Japan winning their first corner of the game, but it came to nothing as Ryoichi Maeda flashed a header wide. Then came the game’s defining moment.

A long ball was floated into the Japanese box, headed on by Kwang-Ryong Pak, then headed goalwards by Pak Nam-Chol. Nishikawa, who should probably have done better, was completely eluded by the bounce of the ball, which ended up in the back of the net. 49 minutes played and North Korea led 1-0.

It was a tough game, with some hard challenges flying in, and one such tackle by goalscorer Pak Nam-Chol on Ryoichi Maeda saw the two players square up to each other. Both were shown the yellow card.

Shinji Okazaki went close for Japan with a long range shot that was tipped over the crossbar by Korean keeper Myong-Guk Ri, but overall North Korea continued to have the better of the game. Zaccheroni responded by bringing on Mike Havenaar, and Japan immediately began to go long to the big striker.

Japanese spirits must have been raised when North Korea were reduced to ten men, with Jong Il-Gwan sent off for a foul on another substitute, Astuto Uchida. Tadanari Lee was also introduced as Japan desperately tried to make their numerical advantage count and grab an equaliser. A Uchida shot and Havenaar header failed to trouble the keeper, but Japan were increasing their share of the possession. Then a nice move saw Japan finally put the ball in the back of the net – only for Havenaar to be correctly flagged offside.

The announcement of five minutes of stoppage time gave Japan hope, but most of those five minutes were taken up by injuries to two North Korean players. The clock ticked down, and the final whistle blew. 1-0 to North Korea. Japan had lost the UFWC title, and North Korea were the new unofficial football world champions.

So, as unlikely as it may seem, North Korea are the new unofficial football world champions. North Korea’s next scheduled match is against Tajikistan on 29 February 2012, and the recent UFWC performances of Tajikistan would suggest that the North Koreans will be well-placed to extend their reign.

We’ll be taking a closer look at the new UFWC champions here over the next few days, reflecting on the impressive reign of former champions Japan, and looking ahead to the future of the Unofficial Football World Championships.

Match Reports japan, North Korea

Tajikistan 0-4 Japan
Dushanbe, 11/11/11
Scorers: Konno, Okazaki (2), Maeda

Japan comfortably defeated Tajikistan once again to retain the UFWC title and reach the next qualification round for the 2014 World Cup. The Blue Samurai only scored half as many goals as they did last time out, but it was a strong performance in difficult conditions, in a match in which complacency could have easily played a decisive part.

Midfielder Yasuhito Endo overcame a groin strain to play for Japan, and Kengo Nakamura and Mike Havenaar both retained their places in the starting eleven. The Tajikistan players all lined up with “Tajikistan” on the back of their shirts, making identification somewhat problematic, but goalkeeper Alisher Tuychiev, defender Davronjon Ergashev, midfielder Dilshod Vasiev and forward Kamil Saidov made up the spine of the team.

The pitch in Dushanbe was in terrible condition, and had been described by Japan captain Makoto Hasebe as “mostly dirt”. The opening exchanges were mostly scrappy, but it was clear from the outset that Tajikistan would offer slightly stronger opposition than they had in the previous match. Indeed, within the first 60 seconds the Tajiks probably had as much meaningful possession as they did in the whole of that 8-0 drubbing.

Despite Tajikistan’s improved efforts, it was Japan who created the best chances. Seven minutes in, Shinji Okazaki set up Havenaar, who dragged a left-foot shot wide of the post from the edge of the penalty area. Within a minute, Yasuhito Endo had also shot just wide for Japan.

Tajik keeper Tuychiev was kept busy, and he had to react quickly to prevent an own goal when one of his defenders dangerously deflected a Kagawa cross. Tuychiev also had to be alert to tip a Yuichi Komano shot over the bar.

But then Tajikistan almost scored a great goal, with Vasiev driving a fierce shot that beat keeper Eiji Kawashima but thudded against the far post.

That chance perhaps sparked Japan into action, and, in the 35th minute, the deadlock was broken. Tuychiev made a great save from Nakamura’s initial shot, but Yasuyuki Konno was first to the rebound to drive the ball into the net under the unlucky keeper.

Tajikistan responded immediately from the restart, with Ergashev driving a 35-yard shot just wide of Kawashima’s goal. But the first half ended with Japan leading 1-0.

It was notable that Japan hadn’t exploited the aerial threat that had served them so well in the previous match, and indeed big striker Havenaar was withdrawn. Nevertheless, Japan’s lead was doubled 15 minutes into the second half – courtesy of a header. While the Tajikistan supporters amused themselves with their take on a Mexican wave, their team allowed Kagawa space to chip a perfect cross to the back post, where Okazaki arrived to easily head home.

The game continued in scrappy fashion until the 82nd minute, when a moment of class from substitute Ryoichi Maeda put the game beyond the reach of Tajikistan. Evading three defenders, Maeda found space at the edge of the penalty area to drive a brilliant shot into the top corner of the goal past the helpless keeper.

Finally, in stoppage time, Okazaki scored his second goal, and Japan’s fourth. It was a similar goal to Maeda’s, with a clever build-up leaving Okazaki to fire home a right foot shot.

There was barely time to restart the game before the final whistle blew, and the match ended 4-0 to Japan. It was a much better effort from Tajikistan, but the Blue Samurai were once again deserved winners.

So Japan retain the UFWC title, and are now unbeaten in 16 consecutive games as unofficial champions. The next UFWC title match arrives quickly – on Tuesday when Japan travel to North Korea. The last game between the two sides, in Saitama in September, finished 1-0 to Japan courtesy of a last-gasp Maya Yoshida goal. The champions will likely find things more difficult away from home. As usual you’ll find full coverage of the match right here.

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Match Reports japan, Tajikistan

Mike Havenaar by al-hayat (Flickr)

This eight-goal UFWC title match / WC qualifier saw Unofficial Football World Champions Japan easily retain their title, and their place at the top of their World Cup qualifying group. The game was a complete mis-match, as classy Japan totally dominated against a woeful Tajikistan side that barely managed to get out of their own half. In the end, the scoreline could have been even more emphatic, but for some wayward Japanese finishing.

This was tough introduction to the UFWC for Tajikistan in their first ever title match. The Persian Lions are coached by Alimzhon Rafikov, who is also boss of top Tajikistani league side Esteghlal Dushanbe (or Istiqlol Dushanbe). The club won the Tajikistani treble – the championship, the Super Bowl, and the national cup – in 2010. 11 members of the international squad play for Esteghlal Dushanbe, and the entire squad plays within the Tajikistan domestic league. 22-year-old striker Kamil Saidov and midfielder Ilkhomjon Ortikov play for CSKA Pomir Dushanbe, not to be confused with cross-town rivals CSKA Dushanbe (or Energetik Dushanbe, or Guardia Dushanbe).

Tajikistan had lost all four of their previous World Cup Qualifiers, although losses against Syria in the second round were overturned and awarded to the Tajikistanis after Syria fielded an ineligible player – allowing Tajikistan to reach the third round.

Japan, meanwhile, were unbeaten in World Cup Qualifying, and unbeaten in 2011. In fact, Japan had gone 14 games and 12 months as unbeaten UFWC champions.

Still without Keisuke Honda, coach Alberto Zaccheroni attempted to fill Japan’s creative void by playing 30-year-old Kengo Nakamura and the returning Shinji Okazaki behind main striker Mike Havenaar, the big target man replacing the often-frustrating Tadanari Lee. Eiji Kawashima, Maya Yoshida and Yasuhito Endo all started after being rested against Vietnam last week.

Havenaar’s influence was immediately obvious, with Japan able to get the ball forward much more quickly than in previous matches. In a frantic opening period, Japan piled pressure on the Tajikistan defence. Yoshida went close twice within the first five minutes, and Shinji Kagawa shot narrowly wide.

High balls to Havenaar were an obvious tactic, and they paid off in the 12th minute, when Komano’s cross from the right found the big striker, who powered a header past Alisher Tuychiev in the Tajikistan goal. 1-0 to Japan, and a first goal on his full debut for Havenaar.

The impressive Nakamura went close twice, before Japan doubled their lead, when Okazaki nipped in to fire home at the near post, shooting past the keeper into the roof of the net. 20 minutes gone, and 2-0 to Japan.

Yoshida and Havenaar both had chances before Komano made it 3-0 with a low drive from outside of the penalty area after Nakamura’s shot had been blocked. Then, five minutes before half-time, Kagawa scored a fourth goal – a fine finish with the outside of his boot after more good work from Nakamura.

Havenaar and Endo both had further chances as Japan continued to completely dominate the game, but the score remained 4-0 at half-time.

Within two minutes of the restart it was 5-0, Havenaar scoring a carbon copy of his previous goal, again heading home a Komano cross. The Japanese striker, of Dutch descent, wouldn’t get the chance to score a hat-trick, however. He was substituted to a standing ovation, replaced by Tadanari Lee.

The goals kept on coming, though. After Yoshima, Nagatomo and Okazaki had all hit the woodwork, the impressive Nakamura scored Japan’s sixth with a left-foot drive after a clever flick from Makoto Hasebe.

Goal number seven was the strangest of the lot, as a 67th-minute Kawaga cross sailed over the Tajikistani keeper’s head and into the net.

At this point, Tajikistan enjoyed their only meaningful piece of possession in the entire match, winning a free kick in Japan’s half, and then winning a corner, which came to nothing. It was only thing of note in a desperate Tajikistani performance, apart from some good saves from Alisher Tuychiev.

Okazaki scored Japan’s eighth goal in the 76th minute, heading home from a Nakamura cross, and beating poor Tuychiev at his near post. By this point, the Japanese players seemed faintly embarrassed to celebrate.

Alimzhon Rafikov took off a striker and brought on a defender, presumably to shore up his defence and protect his side’s goal difference. At 8-0 down. To be fair, the reshuffle worked. Although Japan continued to have all of the possession, and carved out a handful of further chances, there were no more goals.

Japan have now gone 15 games undefeated as UFWC champions, and are now ranked among the top 20 in the UFWC’s all-time ranking table. Today’s 8-0 win was one of the biggest in UFWC history. The last team to score 8 goals in a UFWC title match was Germany in 2000, when they won 8-2 vs Lichtenstein. The last team to win a UFWC title match 8-0 was the Netherlands, vs Malta in 1990.

The bad news for Tajikistan is that they have to do this again next month. The next UFWC title match is the return WC qualifying group fixture between these two sides, on 11 November at the Pamir Stadium in Dushanbe. Japan will be full of confidence, but Tajikistan surely can’t play as badly on home soil as they did in Osaka today.

Match Reports japan, Tajikistan