Bento seeking focus ahead of historic meeting of the Koreas
The South Korea coach is intent on making sure his players are not distracted by the first-ever World Cup qualifier against the group leaders in Pyongyang.
South Korea coach Paulo Bento will aim to keep his players' minds focused on their Sri Lankan opposition on Thursday as the tension mounts ahead of their historic World Cup qualifier in neighbouring North Korea next week.
Bento's side host the South Asians in Hwaseong in the second round of Asia's qualifying tournament for the 2022 finals in Qatar having notched up a 2-0 win over Turkmenistan in their opener last month.
Three points should be almost guaranteed against a nation ranked 202nd in the world and who were hammered 6-0 on Saturday in a friendly match by Malaysia.
But while Bento is fixated on Thursday's match, the spectre of Tuesday's politically sensitive meeting in Pyongyang looms large for the Portuguese coach and his squad.
World Cup first awaits in Pyongyang
In 2008, North Korea twice played home World Cup qualifiers against South Korea in China because it refused to raise its opponents’ flag or play their anthem in Pyongyang, as FIFA rules required.
However, relations between the two soccer federations are better now, and FIFA has encouraged a combined Korean bid to host the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
"My players and I will play Sri Lanka first and then we'll face DPR Korea," former Portugal coach Bento told the Asian Football Confederation's website.
"So we're focusing only on Sri Lanka. We'll prepare for DPR Korea after."
While the two Koreas face each other regularly at all levels of the game, the pair have never played a competitive senior international in the northern nation's capital.
They were last drawn to face one another in the final group phase of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, but North Korea's home game was switched to Shanghai in September 2008.
That encounter ended in a 1-1 draw before South Korea won the return meeting in Seoul seven months later as both nations went on to secure berths for the finals in South Africa.
North Korea, who have six points from their first two games and lead Group H, should go into the high profile meeting well rested after being granted a clear round on the schedule on Thursday.
South Korea, meanwhile, are looking to qualify for the World Cup for a 10th straight time - an Asian record - while North Korea will be aiming to keep alive their hopes of a third finals appearance.
Only the winners of each of the eight groups are guaranteed to advance to the next phase of qualifying, with the four best runners-up also progressing.