The Books Are Ready for the World Cup. The Team Was Not.

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Mr. Davies is from London and Mr. Bennett from Liverpool, but both have lived in the United States for decades and are unabashed lovers of their adopted country. At their reading in May, Mr. Bennett, who recently became a United States citizen, ran onstage waving an American flag.

Their shtick, their show and their book are targeted at Americans who mostly follow the Premier League, but who are also fans of the United States men’s and women’s national teams — or any other team, really. There are even N.F.L. and N.B.A. references. “We are, despite the accents, essentially American,” Mr. Davies said.

Mr. Bennett recalled being interviewed by a BBC reporter, who remarked afterward that people in England were fans of the Men in Blazers podcast, because it was different than what they were used to. But he also had a request: “Please stop talking about the U.S. team. No one cares.” Mr. Bennett laughed and informed the man he wasn’t the target audience.

Making the Best of It

Mr. Bennett and Mr. Davies continue to mourn the United States’ absence from the World Cup. At their book reading, there were plenty of sardonic jokes — “Who is fired up to see Julian Green?” — along with a genuine sadness. It was not surprising that the event sometimes missed the energy derived from their usual fervid American homerism.

To fill the gap, Mr. Davies and Mr. Bennett played up their (accurate) stereotype as dour fans of England’s national team, always expecting the worst. At one point, Mr. Davies claimed that his three favorite World Cups were 1974, 1978 and 1994, which happen to be three times England failed to qualify. They contend America’s failure to make the field this year will not have any effect on their book, and even if it does, they say they won’t let it have any effect on their enjoyment of the World Cup, which they call Soccer Christmas.

One person who probably won’t enjoy Soccer Christmas is Bruce Arena, the manager of the United States national team when it failed to qualify. Its failure sets up Mr. Arena, the author, to be the one American on that team to gain from the loss.

His book, “What’s Wrong with US?,” featuring a deflated red, white and blue soccer ball on the cover, goes on sale Tuesday.



Source : NYtimes