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Obama wishes US soccer team luck in World Cup
(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-05-28 16:28
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US President Barack Obama greets members of the US World Cup soccer team alongside Vice President Joe Biden (2nd R) and former President Bill Clinton (R) during a photo call on the North Portico of the White House in Washington, May 27, 2010. [Agencies] |
WASHINGTON - Barack Obama gave the US World Cup team a presidential sendoff, greeting players at the White House on Thursday along with Vice President Joe Biden and former President Bill Clinton.
"I just want to say how incredibly proud we are of the team," Obama said. "Everybody's going to be rooting for you. And although sometimes we don't remember it here in the United States, this is going to be the biggest world stage there is. And you're going to be representing all of us."
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"We're going to be proud of what you do when you get to South Africa, and you will have somebody in the Oval Office who's going to be watching ESPN to make sure that things are going OK," Obama said.
Biden also gave the players a tour of the White House.
"I had been there once before with the Olympic team. This time around, it was pretty awesome." goalkeeper Tim Howard said.
While their soccer skills got the players into the White House, it was their fashion sense that caught the eye of the leaders. Clinton told the players he wants to join the team just for their stylish tan dress shoes. Obama agreed they were "good-looking" shoes.
"They had a sense of humor and gave us a real nice tour," forward Jozy Altidore said. "Overall, it was just an exciting part of the day."
After the White House visit, the team traveled to Philadelphia and worked out at the Eagles' NovaCare Complex ahead of Saturday's exhibition against Turkey at Lincoln Financial Field. The team leaves the following day for South Africa.
