Winning their way into the last EAFF Women’s East Asian Cup 2013 via preliminary rounds, China PR won against Korea REP. but finished in fourth place, losing to Japan and DPR Korea. However, in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 the side progressed to the last eight, regaining faith in themselves as one of the strongest teams in Asia. The best performance China PR displayed was in its game against the USA in the quarter finals. China PR exhibited a well-matched performance against the eventual world champions that would go on to beat Japan 5-2 in the final. Though the side lost 0-1, the team’s defensive line, built around Li Dongna, held back a powerful American attack with plenty of vigour. Forward Wang Shanshan created chances in attack, and Hang Peng, in the team’s second line, along with Lou Jiahui and Wang Lisi came ever closer to the goal with some skilful dribbling. The midfielders on the team connect the ball superbly, and with a 4-2-3-1 formation as their base, the individual attackers are capable of displaying the strength to break through the opposition in the higher areas of the field, but the team can also unleash sharp counterattacks whenever they intercept the ball in a favourable situation. The hopes of the young team that appeared in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015, a substantial proportion of which are still under 25 years old, are aimed at what could be their first victory in the EAFF Women’s East Asian Cup 2015. Simultaneously, the team members want to build their experience against fierce rivals such as Japan in preparation for the upcoming Rio de Janeiro Olympics qualifiers, making good use of this competition to further strengthen the unity as a team.


DPR Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is known as one of the greatest countries in the Women’s footballing world. They have won the AFC Women’s Asian Cup three times, made two appearances in the Olympics, and appeared in the FIFA Women’s World Cup no less than four times. The team was forbidden from participating in the 2012 London Olympics and the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 due to doping allegations during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011. However, in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Japan 2012 the team finished in the last eight, and secured second place in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Costa Rica 2012, highlighting the potential of the new generation of footballers. The team has successfully replenished its squad with players who have built their experiences through international tournaments since their days on the youth teams, and the side’s participation in the EAFF Women’s East Asian Cup 2013 gave the team their first championship. In the quarter finals of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Vietnam 2014 the side beat China PR, and then Korea REP in the semis, before going on to beat Japan in the final for a fantastic finisher and the goal medal. Hoping for a consecutive championship victory, the team is going into the EAFF Women’s East Asian Cup 2015 with practically the same squad from their gold medal winning campaign in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Vietnam 2014. The leader of the team is manager Kim Kwang-Min, who has headed the team since 2005. The manager knows the team well, and is a veteran with well-grounded knowledge of all the Asian rivals. Kim has managed to raise the younger players on the team, and polish their aggressive football, which centres on the side’s 4-4-2 diamond shaped formation in midfield. The vice-secretary of the DPRK national team and chairman of the Zainichi Korean Football Association Lee Gang-Hong expects much from the side, saying: “This competition will not only serve as a testing ground for the team’s goal of progressing to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, but it is also a terrific chance to show the world how appealing the team is.”


Japan
The FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 – held between June and early July – didn’t give the team two consecutive trophies, though the team ended their campaign in the runner up position. Manager Norio Sasaki’s “Nadeshiko Japan” (the Japan women’s national team) successfully progressed to the third consecutive final in an international tournament, following those of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011 and the 2012 London Olympics. Midfielder Homare Sawa (INAC Kobe), who made her sixth appearance in a FIFA Women’s World Cup, acted as team talisman. With experienced and skilled players in the strong captain Aya Miyama (Okayama Yunogo) and defensive leader Azusa Iwashimizu (NTV Beleza) as the team’s spring board, the side developed their football strategy according to the opponents they faced. This came as a result of a series of resilient victories, attained over the years. In other words, during this period the squad has remained largely unchanged, and it is a fact that the team has been asked to include more young faces on its side, in light of the upcoming Rio de Janeiro Olympics (to be held next year). In the EAFF Women’s East Asian Cup 2013 two years ago, the side’s first match saw them win 2-0 against China PR, but then go on to draw with the DPR Korea, and finally lose 1-2 to Korea REP. this saw the team finish in 2nd place in the competition. Aiming for a championship, Nadeshiko League's top scorer, Yuika Sugasawa (JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies) will be needed. But others are turning their attention also to midfielder Kumi Yokoyama (Nagano Ladies) with her deceptive dribbling skills. As there are only two teams in the Asia slot appearing in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, it will not be easy for the team to make it through the Asian qualifiers next year (date undecided). As the three teams they face in the EAFF Women’s East Asian Cup 2015 are likely to be their Olympic rivals as well, it is of high importance that they win in good form and strengthen their side for future games to come.


Korea REP.
The Korea REP women’s team has a very brief history. The national team’s first international appearance was in the 8th Women’s Asian Championship in 1991. Since that day the team has continued on a steady path, making continuous progress along the way. In the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Germany 2010 the team finished in 3rd place, and the U-17 side took the championship in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Costa Rica 2014. In June this year the team won their way into the knock out stages in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015. In what was their second appearance in a FIFA World Cup, and first since 2003, the “Great Korean Girls made new history,” which was praised as “a great achievement the women’s side managed to achieve in a mere 12 years, compared to the 48 years taken by the men’s side.” Thanks to this achievement, there’s also a growing interest in the WK League – formed from seven teams. With such remarkable team development Korea REP. Women’s football’s next target is the EAFF Women’s East Asian Cup 2015, for which the side qualified winning against Guam, Hong Kong, and Chinese Taipei. Although Chelsea superstar Ji So-yun and Park Eun-sun, who has suffered an injury to her right ankle, were not included on the side, the players who made their way through to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 last 16 have gathered once again under the tutelage of manager Yoon Deok-Yeo. Their aim: the second victory in the competition after that of 2005. They pulled of a great upset against Japan in the last competition. Their momentum from the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 is substantial, and the team conceals the potential to leave ripples in the upcoming tournament.