Soccer steak stakes

Diplomatic relations between the US and the UK are testy with the approach of Saturday’s World Cup match. E-mails leaked to the Times of London reveal that Louis Susman, American ambassador to Britain, approached his British counterpart in Washington to make a wager on the game between the US squad and England. “We will understand if you decline, given the outcome of the last such encounter,” US press secretary Philip Breeden in London gibed. The US beat England 1-0 in Brazil. But Martin Longden, repping British Ambassador Nigel Sheinwald in DC, replied: “I regret that I cannot immediately recall the encounter to which you refer. No doubt it is remembered fondly on these shores; we have quite forgotten it, however.” Longden proposed the terms: dinner at a Washington, DC, steakhouse if England wins, supper at a London pub on Longden’s dime if the US wins. Breeden accepted, but Longden got the last word: “You should know that the ambassador takes his steak like American soccer victories — somewhat rare.”

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