North Koreans prepare for US behind closed doors

Posted Saturday, June 25, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

Training sessions behind closed doors and cancelled public appearances mean a cloak of mystery surrounds North Korea as they prepare to face the USA in their opening women's World Cup game.

The North Koreans take on former winners the USA in Dresden on Tuesday in their opening Group C match and could well be one of the surprise packages of the three-week tournament.

The Koreans are in impressive form, having seen off England 3-0 in a warm-up match last Tuesday.

With an average age of just 20 years and 11 months, the North Korean squad for Germany 2011 is the one of the youngest to ever contest a women's World Cup.

Only Nigeria and Taiwan have fielded younger teams, and both squads played during the inaugural finals in 1991.

But while hosts Germany have taken every opportunity to promote the tournament, North Korea have insisted on tight security around their training ground and are keeping themselves to themselves.

"This thing about North Korea is they like it when things stay mysterious," suggested US striker Abby Wambach, remembering how the North Koreans earned a surprise 2-2 draw with the USA in the group stage at the last World Cup.

"In 2007, they suddenly came out and gave us a tough match."

Journalists and photographers eager to watch the North Koreans, who finished runners-up at the Asian Championships, were left disappointed as training took place this week behind closed doors with security guards present.

Thick screens surrounded their Dresden training ground.

Any gaps through which interested fans or journalists could sneak a glance were quickly blocked up and the team departed swiftly after a two-hour training session on Thursday.