Tough struggle to make some Rapid progress

THE president of the United States of America told the group of footballers behind him that he had dressed in their honour: a grey suit to go along with the matching grey suits worn by the Colorado Rapids.

In amongst them were Dublin-born defender Danny Earls, and Republic of Ireland international striker Caleb Folan, who moved to the Rocky Mountains in February, just before the start of the Major League Soccer season.

As is the tradition for national champions in the US, the perk of victory is a visit to the White House and a reception with the commander-in-chief, distracting him from the daily grind of divisive American politics.