“We are sure that we will win. We’ve been strongly motivated. We shall beat them for sure.”
As the February 9th World Cup qualifier between Japan and North Korea draws nearer, it would seem the political posturing has now started in earnest.
The coming game will be played in Japan, and due to the importance of the game and the tension between the two countries, it will be interesting to see how the usually impeccably behaved Japanese fans react. When the teams met 20 years ago in Pyongyang, the Japanese were subjected to an intimidating and off-putting silence every time they gained possession. And in another trip in 1989, the team complained about a lack of food. A situation that resulted in some of the players having to eat instant noodles, which fortunately they had taken with them.
But with the 1st leg still unplayed, talk of the return fixture has already started. And rumours have surfaced that in a bid to hinder Japan’s superior technical ability, the North Koreans will let the grass on the pitch grow a little longer than usual.
A story that this picture of Kim Jong-Il and a gang of grinning groundsmen does little to discredit.
Wahn says
In a nation full of shoe polishers, the lack of merit wouldnt be a hindrance for a guaranteed career. The footballers probably wouldnt care much about the cars, I heard that all they have there are those soviet-made, zero-suspension, zero-horsepower ones.
Brett says
Well, if they split the difference between the Korean wheat field and the ubiquitous Japanese dustbowl, they might actually come up with a surface that’s half playable.
melina says
his hair…it’s so “trumpian”. i can’t help but wonder if he blow-dries it and uses mousse or something…
luke says
apparently his hair is like that to make himself look taller he wears platform shoes as well, that man has got some problems.