WASHINGTON — Barack Obama gave the U.S. World Cup team — including RSL's Robbie Findley — 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."
Biden intends to attend the U.S. opener against England on June 12 in Rustenburg, South Africa. Clinton is honorary chairman of the bid committee trying to bring the World Cup back to the U.S. in 2018 or 2022.
"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.
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.