North Korea 1-1 Sweden (1-4 on penalties)
23 January 2013
King’s Cup
700th Anniversary Stadium, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Scorers: Hong Kum Song (North Korea);
Fejzullahu (Sweden)

Sweden are the new Unofficial Football World Champions after defeating long-term UFWC title holders North Korea. Swedish coach Erik Hamrén had said ahead of the match that the unofficial championship would provide additional motivation for his team, and they eventually managed to defeat North Korea following a penalty shoot out. North Korea had been unofficial champions since November 2011, when they took the title from Japan. Sweden last held the title in November 2008.

In addition to being a UFWC title match, this was the first fixture in the 2013 King’s Cup – a four-team knockout tournament, with all matches played at the 700th Anniversary Stadium in Chaing Mai, northern Thailand. The other participants are Finland and hosts Thailand. Sweden will now progress to the final this Saturday.

North Korea lined up for this game with a much-changed team compared to previous UFWC matches. Most notably, neither of the two Pak Nam Chols played. The attacking midfielder Pak Nam Chol had been the Chollima’s star player throughout their UFWC reign, providing goals and assists, and he was much missed today. Goalkeeper Ri Myung Guk captained the side.

Sweden fielded a team based around players from the Swedish domestic league, and missing several star men, including, of course, Zlatan Ibrahimović. Adam Johansson, Daniel Majstorovic, Anders Svensson, and Tobias Hysén were among the more established names in the starting line-up. Interestingly, 35-year-old centre back Majstorovic played in Sweden’s last UFWC victory in 2008. There were international debuts for Jakob Johansson of IFK Gothenburg and Fullerton Fejzullahu of Djurgarden. It would prove to be a debut to remember for Fejzullahu.

Erik Hamrén called the UFWC “obviously an additional motivating factor” in the build up to the match. “I always want to win games, and it would be good to be called the unofficial world champions,” he said. “We want to have a good performance, and would love to win against North Korea. If that means that we’re world champions, I’ll be very happy.”

The first half saw Sweden dominate possession without quite making it count. 24-year-old striker “Erton” Fejzullahu looked lively, creating a couple of half chances for his side. North Korea created nothing, but held the Swedes at bay with a mostly-effective offside trap.

The obviously dissatisfied North Korea coach Yun Jong Su made another of the unusually early substitutions that have been a feature of his team’s UFWC run, bringing on Pak Song Il after just 36 minutes in what appeared to be a purely tactical swap. Interestingly, North Korea made five substitutions over the course of the game – unusual for a UFWC title match, but allowed under the rules of the King’s Cup tournament.

Sweden created three good chances towards the end of the half. First, Jakob Johansson found Hysén – only for the striker to shoot straight at Ri Myung Guk. A Fejzullahu volley was also hit straight at the North Korea keeper, before a Jakob Johansson shot from distance was bundled around the post.

It was goalless at half-time, but that all changed pretty quickly in the second half. Within three minutes of the restart North Korea had the lead, with quick passing allowing Hong Kum Song to shoot past Swedish keeper Pär Hansson. 1-0 to the reigning champions.

However, the Swedes continued to dominate possession, and got their reward after 55 minutes, when Ri Myung Guk raced off his line to clear the ball, only to kick it straight to Fejzullahu, who cleverly lobbed the keeper to score an equaliser. It was an awful mistake from the North Korean captain, who had been so impressive in previous UFWC matches, but full credit to Fejullahu for taking skilful advantage. 1-1.

As the second half progressed, the game became more stretched, and both keepers were called upon to make saves. North Korea became more adventurous, but Sweden retained the majority of the possession.

Most importantly, however, there were no further goals. That meant the game would be settled via a penalty shoot out. The last UFWC penalty shoot out was in January 2011, when then-champions Japan defeated South Korea. That was pretty much a walkover – and so was this one.

Amazingly, the North Koreans, who looked so efficient throughout their long UFWC reign, seemed to lose all composure. Anders Svensson, Daniel Majstorovic, Tobias Hysén and Pontus Jansson all scored for Sweden. Only Kim Chol Bom scored for North Korea. The penalty shoot out finished 4-1, and Sweden were the new Unofficial Football World Champions.

Sweden have a great record in the UFWC, and they now get the chance to extend it. Today’s win – their 27th in the competition – pushes the Swedes up to 7th in the all-time UFWC rankings table alongside Italy and Germany. Another win would put them ahead of those two giants of world football.

The next UFWC title match comes around quick and fast, this Saturday 26 January, when Sweden play the winner of today’s Finland vs Thailand match in the King’s Cup Final. The final kicks off at 1700 local time (1000 GMT / 1100 CET). Again, we’ll have full coverage right here. Watch this space and follow us on Twitter and Facebook for updates.

UPDATE: Finland defeated Thailand 3-1, and will play Sweden in Saturday’s King’s Cup Final.

Match Reports North Korea, Sweden

North Korea vs Sweden
23 January 2013
King’s Cup
700th Anniversary Stadium, Chiang Mai, Thailand

The 2013 Unofficial Football World Championships campaign gets underway this week as current UFWC champions North Korea arrive in Thailand to participate in the annual King’s Cup tournament. We’re guaranteed two UFWC title matches here, and the format of the tournament means that whichever team wins the King’s Cup will also be Unofficial Football World Champions.

Sweden, Finland, and hosts Thailand are the other participants in the four-team knockout competition. Two semi finals will be played this Wednesday 23 January, with a third-place match and the final taking place on Saturday 26. All four of the tournament’s matches will be played at the 700th Anniversary Stadium, the 25,000-capacity home ground of Chiangmai FC, in Chaing Mai, northern Thailand.

The first semi final is a UFWC title match, as defending champions North Korea take on challengers Sweden. North Korea have made 12 consecutive defences of their UFWC title since taking it from Japan in November 2011, but Sweden will be the first European challenger they have faced. The last time the Chollima played a European team was at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, when they lost 7-0 to Portugal.

Sweden were last UFWC champions in 2008, and have a very good record in the competition. The Swedes are 9th in the all-time rankings table with 26 UFWC title match victories. Notable wins include a brave triumph over Germany in 1942, and the famous 10-0 win over Norway in 1945, in which the great Gunnar Nordahl scored four goals. Nordahl is the UFWC’s all-time top goalscorer.

The Swedish King’s Cup squad is made up of domestic-based players, and players from other leagues that are on winter breaks. So several unfamiliar faces are likely to make their debuts, and Sweden will be without star players such as Ibrahimović and company.

Brilliantly, Sweden coach Erik Hamrén is fully aware that his side has the chance to become Unofficial Football World Champions, after the UFWC was explained to him at a press conference. ‘I always want to win games, and it would be good to be called the unofficial world champions,’ he said. ‘That will be an additional motivating factor. We want to have a good performance, and would love to win against North Korea. If that means that we’re world champions, I’ll be very happy.’

If Sweden were fielding their strongest team, they would undoubtedly be strong favourites to end North Korea’s UFWC reign. They’re unbeaten in five matches, and have recently drawn with Germany and beaten England. However, North Korea are unbeaten in 13, and regular UFWC watchers will know that they can be a formidable opponent. Sweden are ranked 20th in the world by FIFA, while North Korea are 99th.

The winner of the North Korea versus Sweden semi final will be Unofficial Football World Champions, and will take the UFWC title into Saturday’s final against either Finland or Thailand. Finland last participated in the UFWC in 2008, losing to then-champions Greece, and have never held the unofficial title. Thailand have never participated in the UFWC. Finland and Thailand are ranked 83rd and 136th in the world respectively by FIFA.

Can Sweden’s young players end North Korea’s imperious run as UFWC champions? It’s difficult to predict, but it should certainly be an interesting contest. North Korea have been worthy champions, but the intervention of Sweden could take the title in an exciting new direction. (Of course, Finland and Thailand could also have a say in where the title ends up.)

Certainly, North Korea versus Sweden is one of the most hotly-anticipated UFWC title matches in recent memory. The match kicks off at 1600 local time (0900 GMT, 1000 CET). TV viewers in Sweden can watch the match live on TV4 Sport.

We’ll have coverage of North Korea vs Sweden on Wednesday, and then North Korea or Sweden versus Finland or Thailand on Saturday, right here. Watch this space and follow us on Twitter and Facebook for updates.

Match Previews North Korea, Sweden