While World Cup fever grips everyone, Think Progress grows a little suspicious of backlash from conservatives in America. The argument goes that, since we aren’t the best, liberals are upholding soccer as a way to subdue the ideal of American pride and patriotism that only can exist in places where the U.S. is the greatest country in all the world.

If the e-mail exchange uncovered by The Times between the American Ambassador to London and the U.K. Ambassador in Washington, D.C. is true, the trash talk surrounding the Group C opening match between England and the U.S. is currently on a transatlantic flight to Awesometown.

Early on Saturday morning, ESPN2 was broadcasting the live feed of the final tune up for the Yanks as they took on the Socceroos of Australia. The US men would ultimately come out the winners, 3-1, on the back of two goals from Edson Buddle. It’s the type of warm-up that’s markedly forgettable…if it wasn’t for that damn buzzing sound.