In the 1966 World Cup, North Korea scripted one of the tournament’s most memorable underdog stories, becoming the first Asian side to reach the quarterfinals. Their defining moment came in the group stage, where they stunned Italy with a famous 1-0 win, sending shockwaves through the tournament. In the quarters against Portugal, the fairytale soared as North Korea raced into a remarkable 3-0 lead but the dream unravelled just as quickly. Portugal mounted a stunning comeback to win 5-3, ending North Korea’s historic run.

**Visit The Daily Star website to also read “Argentina’s 24-pass orchestra”.