Life in Hollywood bubble plays second fiddle to US need for World Cup success | Max Rushden

G reetings from Los Angeles – from your own podcasting correspondent. England aside, it’s been 20 years since I was in the host country for a major tournament. Professional commitments make this a marginally different experience from driving around Germany with Ian, Matt and Oli in 2006 just wondering when the next stein was going to be thrust into my hands – dancing with Trinidad and Tobago fans, feeling lucky to miss out on Brazil v Australia tickets because my hangover was too much for the sun. The question you are asked most by people back home is along the lines of: “Is there World Cup fever in the States?” I am reminded of a local TV crew who walked around central Cambridge on the eve of our FA Cup quarter-final with Crystal Palace in 1990 asking people how they felt about the game, and being rewarded with lots of nice middle-class people who didn’t even know there was a football team in Cambridge. Or when the Ashes arrives in Melbourne: “What’s the atmosphere down there, Max?” “Well if I’m honest, I’m mainly in my house with two under-fives who aren’t across the deficiencies of Bazball. I’m just on my hands and knees trying to clear up rice with a wet wipe.” On that note, to the partners of the journalists, players and officials at home dealing with real life and children while we gad about North America – you are owed an enormous debt. If my 18-month-old, Willie Rushden, ever reads this, now was not the time to get hand, foot and mouth. …