Posted By Sylvie Stein Share

Now the pressure is really on for the U.S. to beat Britain in the World Cup opening match this Saturday, because a free meal for the American ambassador is on the line.

Politico has released an email exchange between the U.S. and British ambassadors in which they make a wager on the outcome of their countries' upcoming "football" face-off. The terms? Ambassador of the losing team buys ambassador of the winning team dinner at the winner's favorite restaurant.

The trash-talking then spilled over to a back-and-forth between embassies, ending with a blow from the (overconfident­) British: "The [American] Ambassador takes his steak like American soccer victories - somewhat rare."

Oh, England.  I guess you're still struggling with that inferiority complex we embedded into your psychology back in 1950...

Guang Niu/Getty Images

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HUGH

5:00 AM ET

June 10, 2010

Beat it!

Beat 'Britain in the World Cup'? Er...do you also struggle when the offside trap's explained to you?

 

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