ATLANTA (AP) — Ahead of the World Cup, Chris Richards has a new perspective on what makes America unique.
“The TSA line is probably pretty American right now,” the U.S. defender said Monday ahead of the World Cup prelude against Portugal.
Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, Richards spends most of the year in London, playing for English club Crystal Palace. He arrived in the United States last week to participate in the national team’s friendly match in Atlanta.
His early views on what was uniquely American focused on food. During a friendly between Texas and Colorado in October, he took teammate Cameron Carter-Vickers and England-raised Anthony Robinson to Chili’s Grill and Bar as part of a group that included Tim Weah, Weston McKennie and Mark McKenzie, according to cbssports.com.
“You’ve got to get a triple dipper, which I think is endless chips and salsa, but there’s also sports on the TV, and there’s chocolate lava cake, and you’re just sitting there looking at the ground, the tiles,” Richards was quoted as saying. “You think, this is beautiful, this is nostalgia, this is really America…I think that’s one of the things that makes us American. Places like Chili’s are like a staple, and now that they’ve had Chili’s, I think they can finally get that stamp in their passport, so I was happy for them.”
France national team coach Didier Deschamps spoke about airport security ahead of Sunday’s friendly against Colombia in Landover, Maryland.
In a press conference ahead of Maryland’s game against Columbia on Sunday, Deschamps said he was shocked by the strict protocols he encountered upon arrival.
“Upon arrival, we received a check that I had never seen in my life and had an incredible time at the airport,” the coach explained to reporters. “We are adapting.”
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