World Cup: Now starting in goal for the U.S., Joe Biden!

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You know you’re in trouble when Joe Biden looks like your best player.

OK, yes, that was a low blow, but there are some things that need to be said about the U.S. World Cup team’s visit to the White House on Thursday.

It was, of course, the ultimate photo op, but as any wedding photographer worth his or her salt would tell you, group photographs can be a pain in the neck. Just try getting 35 people all looking in the same direction at the same time, without their eyes closed and without any stupid expressions.

The photographer at the White House succeeded, more or less.

Still, forward Landon Donovan looked shy.

Midfielder Jose Torres looked as if he’d caught sight of a good-looking woman somewhere to the left of the camera.

Goalkeeper Coach Zak Abdel looked as if the binge had been a good one.

Clint Dempsey’s look said: ‘Just get this thing done.’

Tim Howard and Oguchi Onyewu looked overjoyed to be there.

Maurice Edu appeared to be checking President Obama’s hairdo, which, on second thought, is perhaps what Torres was doing as well.

Marcus Hahnemann’s scowl, paired with his pointy goatee, could have sent the Secret Service detail scurrying for cover.

Coach Bob Bradley looked nervously proud, with reason to be both.

We could go on. But the point is this: It’s time for the staged events to end and for the real events to begin. The World Cup is only two weeks away. Be ready or be gone.

-- Grahame L. Jones

Photo: Vice President Joe Biden, left, President Barack Obama, center, and former President Bill Clinton pose with the U.S. World Cup team on Thursday. Credit: Jon Todd / ISI Photos