Blair in Chelsea camp
Afp, Los Angeles
British Prime Minister Tony Blair indulged his passion for football during his visit to Los Angeles, meeting players from English Premiership champions Chelsea on their pre-season tour, his spokesman said Tuesday.Blair -- an avowed fan of Premiership side Newcastle United -- dropped in on a reception for the west London club in the California city Monday night, the spokesman said. "He was invited by Chelsea to go to the reception. He dropped in for 15 minutes. He thought that was the courteous thing to do," he told reporters. "He spoke to (captain and defender) John Terry, (midfielder) Joe Cole and (midfielder) Frank Lampard about the pressures of taking penalties and left." Penalties remain a key topic of conversation -- and frustration -- among fans of the England national side, after they were knocked out of the World Cup in a quarterfinal shoot-out with Portugal. Lampard was one of three England players who missed from the spot.
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