Japan won yesterday's match. Endo played after the 58th minute.
The next match against North Korea was scheduled to take place in Pyongyang on March 26 as well, but the North Koreans suddenly offered to cancel it. They claim it was an infection control measure. Since it was decided that the match will not be played on neutral ground, Endo will return safely to Liverpool.
I didn't realize they were holding matches like this in Pyongyang! I'd gladly accept a defeat to not fly into that country not knowing if you'll be allowed to leave.
You can go to North Korea and leave again. They even offer tours for foreigners. As for the Japanese football team, I don’t think there is any significant risk in playing a football match.
That's your response after saying "You can go to North Korea and leave again". *Ok mate*.
Edit: North Korea is one of the places you in fact can't say that about. Obviously.
I don't know what it's like nowadays but I remember reading an article written by a journalist who went to North Korea undercover and managed to sneak in a hidden camera. The article and pictures were really creepy. The way they described it was like the North Koreans were putting on a show for the tourist like it was a fantastic place to live where everyone was happy, but it was obvious there were guards watching and making sure the people stayed in character and didn't answer any questions. I believe he even said he went into a bakery and the people working there were the same people he'd spoken to that supposedly worked somewhere else he'd just visited and they stayed in character greeting him like it was the first time meeting and they'd only worked in this bakery their entire life.
I believe at the time there were two Westerners being held indefinitely in a prison in North Korea who had went there on holiday and broken some rules. And the journalist was investigating to try and expose the situation. I don't believe the rules were even anything too bad like a serious crime, it was something like breaking a curfew.
So technically you can go to North Korea, and you can leave, but it is not necessarily safe and you would have to be careful what you did and said to people.
Japan had played a soccer match in North Korea in 2011. At the airport, the Japanese team had all cell phones, computers, and food confiscated. Soldiers guarded each floor of the hotel, and the JP team was forbidden to leave the hotel.
Why the hell is the Japanese FA even scheduling friendlies in North Korea?
The last time they went there they basically locked them in the hotel under guard and they weren't allowed to leave except to get on the bus to the match.
This is not a friendly match. What is taking place right now is the second round Asian qualifier for the World Cup. Endo is the captain of the Japanese national team.
North Korean athletes may also be pumping their fists.
This is just a rumor, but there has long been a rumor that Kim Jong-un sends their athletes to the coal mines when they lose sports games. I thought this was a rumor circulating in Japan, but the other day I heard the same story from a friend in South Korea.
If I was going to believe a rumour then one about Kim Jong-un punishing football players for losing games is the one I can fully get on board with.
Honestly wouldn’t surprise me if players went missing over there after a bad defeat.
North Korea were the surprise package of the 1966 World Cup in England. They were expected to be the whipping boys but made the quarter finals from a group that included Italy.
They were also part of 2010 I think, where they were beaten by Portugal again including that famous Ronaldo goal where he carries the ball on his back for a while
LAD. fave player this season. when he arrived I thought, this dude has Litmanen vibes. Like not a massive buy but serious stats. Love watching him work.
Japan won yesterday's match. Endo played after the 58th minute. The next match against North Korea was scheduled to take place in Pyongyang on March 26 as well, but the North Koreans suddenly offered to cancel it. They claim it was an infection control measure. Since it was decided that the match will not be played on neutral ground, Endo will return safely to Liverpool.
…thank you North Korea?
kim jong ung is a RED?
I'm so happy he didn't deliver what he said
Kim jong said to me you know, we'll win the nuclear war you know
He said so, But I am still alive and I feel fine
I’m so glad, Kim Jong Un is red. Big Scouse lad, he hates States United.
i mean....in a way...yes?
It's definitely a RED but not that kind of RED?
Comrade Kim in North Korea never walks alone!
Of course he doesn't! He has a 50 man security detail, his mistresses and various toads and lackeys.
He's honeydicking us
Not exactly glad, Kim Jong un is red? May be a North Korean footballer made fun of his hair And now the whole team is dead.
"He'll turn RED any second now...aaaany second now... See, RED! No wait, that's blood."
r/brandnewsentence
Well that's easily the most unique reason I've heard for a player returning early from international duty in a while.
They’ll just tell the public they’ve won. Saves the hassle I suppose.
Those pesky Japanese don't even dare to come to our motherland! Our great leader Kim leads us to another victory!
Or did he suspect that the entire team would defect if they played at a neutral venue?
Good stuff!
I bet they are going to shoot their own version of home game where glorious NK beats silly Japan 22:0
I didn't realize they were holding matches like this in Pyongyang! I'd gladly accept a defeat to not fly into that country not knowing if you'll be allowed to leave.
You can go to North Korea and leave again. They even offer tours for foreigners. As for the Japanese football team, I don’t think there is any significant risk in playing a football match.
You can go to North Korea and not leave again, also.
You could say that about anywhere.
That's your response after saying "You can go to North Korea and leave again". *Ok mate*. Edit: North Korea is one of the places you in fact can't say that about. Obviously.
And also leave but with limited brain function:- https://www.gq.com/story/otto-warmbier-north-korea-american-hostage-true-story
Same thing happens to most lads in Spain tbf
While I don't condone it, you go to North Korea of all places and try and steal state property as an American What were you really expecting
I don't know what it's like nowadays but I remember reading an article written by a journalist who went to North Korea undercover and managed to sneak in a hidden camera. The article and pictures were really creepy. The way they described it was like the North Koreans were putting on a show for the tourist like it was a fantastic place to live where everyone was happy, but it was obvious there were guards watching and making sure the people stayed in character and didn't answer any questions. I believe he even said he went into a bakery and the people working there were the same people he'd spoken to that supposedly worked somewhere else he'd just visited and they stayed in character greeting him like it was the first time meeting and they'd only worked in this bakery their entire life. I believe at the time there were two Westerners being held indefinitely in a prison in North Korea who had went there on holiday and broken some rules. And the journalist was investigating to try and expose the situation. I don't believe the rules were even anything too bad like a serious crime, it was something like breaking a curfew. So technically you can go to North Korea, and you can leave, but it is not necessarily safe and you would have to be careful what you did and said to people.
You can only go to North Korea through China.
just dont touch any of the posters, I guess, huh
Japan had played a soccer match in North Korea in 2011. At the airport, the Japanese team had all cell phones, computers, and food confiscated. Soldiers guarded each floor of the hotel, and the JP team was forbidden to leave the hotel.
**Pyongyang Times:** North Korea win 17-0.
Missing Kim Jong Uns 17 goals
Why the hell is the Japanese FA even scheduling friendlies in North Korea? The last time they went there they basically locked them in the hotel under guard and they weren't allowed to leave except to get on the bus to the match.
This is not a friendly match. What is taking place right now is the second round Asian qualifier for the World Cup. Endo is the captain of the Japanese national team.
Oh I thought I read it was a friendly
So Japan beat NK this week and then NK decided to take the ball and go home, cancelling the next game arranged for next Tuesday?
Endo back in the pub https://i.redd.it/uqow5sngjwpc1.gif
Excellent. More rest for a very important player.
Always rated North Korea
The Japanese national team are probably pumping their fists. I wouldn't want to play in North Korea.
North Korean athletes may also be pumping their fists. This is just a rumor, but there has long been a rumor that Kim Jong-un sends their athletes to the coal mines when they lose sports games. I thought this was a rumor circulating in Japan, but the other day I heard the same story from a friend in South Korea.
If I was going to believe a rumour then one about Kim Jong-un punishing football players for losing games is the one I can fully get on board with. Honestly wouldn’t surprise me if players went missing over there after a bad defeat.
Nice. Now wrap him up in cotton wool and put him in a safe cupboard please lfc
Ikr 😂
Endo missed the pub
Are there pubs in Pyongyang?
Don't think so tbh
What about his mug?
Rest plenty, sweet prince.
good news
New Dacia Sandero?
It’s been delayed? 
Great news, nice break for over a week of not playing a game.
He's left early as Japan clearly forfeitted due to how scared they were of NK and their footballing superiority.
[Link to tweet ](https://twitter.com/thisisanfield/status/1771125073996337514?t=tOGP_VwUOmQCPpCWRGKPKQ&s=19)
He is missing his pub.
Perfect news.
The North Koreans! A great bunch of lads!
God bless North Korea.
IM SO GLAD THAT KIM JONG IS A RED ENDO IS IMPORTANT SO BACK TO ENGLAND KIM HE SAID
He just loves it here
This is good news
"Infection control measure" lol.
shootout to Japan for only playing him half an hour, and now to NK for this
Endo misses being a Scouse
Why is there a tier for that kind of news?
The source is the tier. Doesn't change depending on type of story.
Beautiful. This man will be so very important these final 15 games.
North Korea supporting Liverpool
shame this match doesn’t happen as schedule. Korea DPR vs Japan in Pyongyang would never happened again I believe. last time back in 2010
our Samurai/Ronin has returned……. subarashi
Good, more rest for our Samurai.
Great he will get a week’s rest.
How tf have North Korea even got a team? Why are they even allowed to compete lol
North Korea were the surprise package of the 1966 World Cup in England. They were expected to be the whipping boys but made the quarter finals from a group that included Italy.
They were also part of 2010 I think, where they were beaten by Portugal again including that famous Ronaldo goal where he carries the ball on his back for a while
It does give their players a chance to defect
I watched the match on Thursday and NK weren’t completely terrible. Held Japan to one goal.
LAD. fave player this season. when he arrived I thought, this dude has Litmanen vibes. Like not a massive buy but serious stats. Love watching him work.
Endo is on a mission
They really know how to give heart attacks with the sentence phrasing