Avoiding the cliché

Wherein it doesn't last long as the first comment dives back into anti-American bigotry


Sean Ingle:

I found myself chatting to some lads from Memphis. Preliminaries over, I asked the obvious question: "So, do you fancy your team's chances against the Czech Republic?"

"Sure," piped up one. "After all, we're fifth in the Fifa world rankings."

There was a pause, before the four of them erupted into laughter.

"And the Czechs are second!" cried another, bringing the house down.

That exchange - self-effacing, intelligent, humorous - was typical: every American I met seemed determined to wage war against the cliché of the ignorant US Soccerball fan.