North Korea have been tipped as the World Cup's danger team and they plan to live up to that reputation by upsetting defending champions Germany in their quarter-final in Wuhan today.
Two-time winners the US picked the Asian No. 1s as dark horses after being held 2-2 draw in a group game, and Germany know they must improve to get past Kim Kwang-min's charges.
"We need to improve and we can improve," said Germany's hotshot striker Birgit Prinz, now the leading scorer in World Cup history with 13 goals, who admits her team are yet to produce their creative best here.
"Sometimes we play well, but other times we struggle a bit," Prinz said.
Her words reflect Germany's passage to the last eight.
After thumping Argentina 11-0 in their opening game, the Germans struggled to take their chances against England in a dour 0-0 draw before inching past Japan 2-0.
Germany, nevertheless, go into the match as favorites, although coach Silvia Neid has warned that the standards at the World Cup show the gap between the top teams has narrowed.
"I've been saying that for a while now, and now I feel justified," said the 43-year-old, who played 111 internationals for her country. "You can't just expect us to thrash all of the teams we play here in China."
While no team has successfully defended their title in the 16-year history of the World Cup, the omens are good for Germany against the North Koreans, with the European side having a perfect record against Asian teams in the tournament.
They have five wins out of five, 10 goals scored and none conceded, including victories over Taiwan in 1991, Japan and China in 1995, and two more victories over Japan in 2003 and this year.
North Korea admitted to fatigue and a lack of focus in their group game defeat to Sweden on Tuesday, but have had three days to recover and prepare for Germany.
Coach Kim knows they have to lift their game, but is confident his team are capable of reaching their first ever World Cup semi-final.
"In our next match with Germany we'll be doing everything we can to get the win," he said. "We'll rely on our strengths and fight every step of the way to reach the end of the tournament."
Surprise package England have a golden opportunity to upset goal-shy double champions the US in their World Cup quarter-final today.
The Three Lionesses, ranked just 12th, showed their mettle in a 0-0 draw with title-holders Germany and thrashed Argentina 6-1 to bound into the last eight.
Meanwhile the top-ranked US are yet to find their scoring boots despite topping a tough Group B as they extended their unbeaten run to 50 matches.
Coach Hope Powell, credited with masterminding a revolution in the England team, said her side was ready to break a 19-year win drought against the Americans.
England's march to the quarter-finals comes despite a 12-year absence from the World Cup when they reached the same stage in 1995.
But US coach Greg Ryan said he had always seen the attack-minded English as one of the chief title contenders.
"I'm not surprised by England at all," Ryan said.
"When anybody asked me before the tournament who were among our principal rivals for the title, I always mentioned them. England have a top side, one of the best in the world," he said.
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