WORLD> Global General
Obama gets jersey from Brazil's Lula
(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-07-10 10:13

US President Barack Obama seemed pleased with the gift he received Thursday from Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, but it was bittersweet nonetheless.

Obama gets jersey from Brazil's Lula

US President Barack Obama holds a soccer jersey given to him by Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (R) before a round table session at the G8 summit in L'Aquila, Italy July 9, 2009. [Agencies] Obama gets jersey from Brazil's Lula

Silva gave Obama, a big sports fan, an autographed yellow Brazilian soccer jersey at the start of their morning meeting at the G8 summit in Italy.

During their banter, which reporters partly heard through a translator, Silva spoke animatedly of the June 28 soccer match between the US and Brazilian national teams in the Confederations Cup series. The game was a crushing loss for the underdog Americans, who led at the midway point, 2-0, only to lose 3-2.

Related readings:
Obama gets jersey from Brazil's Lula Obama says looking forward to China visit
Obama gets jersey from Brazil's Lula Chinese state councilor, Obama have talks at summit
Obama gets jersey from Brazil's Lula President obama reaches out to Russian opposition
Obama gets jersey from Brazil's Lula Brazil's Lula, on China visit, secures 13 deals
Obama gets jersey from Brazil's Lula Brazilian president exchanges passes with Ronaldo
Silva repeatedly said, "Yes we can," which was Obama's campaign catchphrase and apparently what the Brazilian president had in mind while his team trailed. Obama smiled gamely; if he felt Silva was rubbing it in a bit, he didn't let on.

"Hey, look at this," Obama said of the jersey, signed by the Brazilian team's players. "Beautiful. All right, wonderful. I like that."

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs later said Obama ended his 30-minute session with Silva by patting the Brazilian's back and vowing: "We will not lose a two-point lead again."