North Korea came to England in 1966 for their World Cup debut. Almost nobody knew anything about them, and plenty of people found the idea of them rather amusing.
Then they played Italy at Ayresome Park in Middlesbrough.
Italy were one of the strongest football nations on earth. In the 42nd minute Pak Doo-ik scored for North Korea, and the goal held up. The 1-0 result went round the world, and it knocked Italy out of the tournament.
The Italian squad did not get a warm welcome home. The players were pelted with rotten tomatoes at the airport when they landed.
What happened next for North Korea?
They had not finished surprising people. In the quarter-final North Korea went 3-0 up against Portugal. That was when Eusébio took over, and Portugal came back to win 5-3. The fairy tale ended there, but it had lasted longer than anyone expected.
Why the result still matters
North Korea's win over Italy remains one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history. A team nobody respected sent home one of the giants of the game. The defeat left a lasting mark on Italian football, and it made the case, early in the tournament's history, that on any given day at a World Cup the underdog can win.
For a side making its first appearance at the tournament, it was quite an introduction.
Next up tomorrow: number 26.
