French President Emmanuel Macron received praise during a state visit to Washington for his diplomacy on issues from Lebanon to Ukraine. And also, from Secretary of State Antony Blinken, over soccer. The top US diplomat, who spent part of his childhood in France, at a luncheon Thursday in honor of Macron offered a light-hearted thank-you to Macron over his favorite team. The years in Paris “gifted me with a lifelong love of soccer — or football, to use the correct word – and also the Paris Saint-Germain team,” Blinken said. “So while I couldn’t be prouder to cheer on Team USA at the World Cup, I’m also thrilled to see Kylian Mbappe working his magic for Les Bleus and, Mr. President, thank you for keeping him in Paris.” (https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer-loving-top-us-diplomat-223848846.html) Blinken made these remarks as he and Vice President Kamala Harris welcomed Macron to a luncheon at the State Department.