KEY POINTS:
A replay of the drawn third-round battle between top seeds Germany and Korea DPR remains likely for Sunday's final as the Fifa Under-17 Women's World Cup heads into today's semifinals.
The North Koreans are warmly favoured to edge past surprise survivors England in the early semifinal at Christchurch's QE II Park and while the Germans face a tougher task at 7pm, they should stretch their unbeaten run to five games in winning through to the North Harbour Stadium final.
The Koreans, who have never met England at any level in international football, have the advantage of having played twice at QE II Park for an opening 1-1 draw against Ghana and a 2-1 win over Costa Rica.
England have played at the Westpac and North Harbour Stadiums for a 3-0 first-up win over Brazil and a scratchy 1-0 win over Nigeria before a 3-0 loss to South Korea. Their quarter-final was played in Hamilton.
The North Koreans also have form on their side. Their goal count is 8-3 (England's 6-5) and they have forced 14 corners (England just four). North Korea have had eight wins and two draws in only 10 women's matches at under-17/under-20 level.
It is only the fifth time England have won through to the semifinals at any Fifa tournament, men or women. Their only success has been the famous World Cup triumph in 1966.
England have sneaked home with late goals in many of their matches, with five of their six goals scored in the last 20 minutes.
Korean coach Ri Un Ham is not taking a place in the final as a given.
"England are a solid, physical team," said Ri. "They are less spectacular than Germany or Japan, but we mustn't underestimate them, or think they will be an easier adversary than Japan would have been.
"Player for player, the European sides are stronger than us, especially physically and technically.
"But my players, and those of Asian teams generally, have better team spirit. That may be why the three Asian teams all made it out of the group stage."
In tonight's second semifinal, Germany sharp-shooter Dzsenifer Marozsan will look to seal her claim as the tournament's golden boot.
She goes into the game against the US with six goals - two more than her only realistic challenger American Vicky DiMartino. Both will have a further chance to add to their respective tallies on Sunday - one in the final, the other in the bronze play-off.
Germany have scored 12 and conceded four in their four matches. The United States have a 10-7 goal count.
Germany's only blemish thus far was the third-round 1-1 draw with the North Koreans in the third round, when both teams had already secured their quarter-final berths.
The Americans lost 3-2 to Japan first-up, beat Paraguay 3-1m then drew 1-1 with France, whom they pushed back to third place on goal difference.
This will be the seventh meeting in women's football between the two superpowers. The US have won five, Germany two. The two countries have met six times in the semifinals with the winner going on to take the title. It promises to be more of the same again.
TODAY'S SEMIFINALS
* Korea DPR v England
QE II Park 4pm live SS1
Odds $1.90 Draw $3.45 Odds $3.30
* Germany v United States
QE II Park 7pm live SS1
Odds $2 Draw $3.50 Odds $3
