John Ratzenberger, the actor who played postman Cliff Clavin in the hit 80s sitcom Cheers, has exclusively told the Daily Star that England can defeat Ghana and win the World Cup. The 79-year-old, who also voiced Hamm in the Toy Story franchise, lived in England for a decade and remains a devoted Anglophile.
Ratzenberger's World Cup Prediction
“Cheers England! You can go all the way,” Ratzenberger said. He believes Harry Kane’s squad is “practically halfway to the trophy” and hopes England will face the USA in the round of 16 on July 4, America’s 250th Independence Day. “The U.S. will give them a proper fight, especially on home soil. If this lines up, count me in. I will be there!”
Drawing a parallel to Boston’s sports history, he noted: “Bostonians know about long droughts. Red Sox baseball fans waited 86 years for another World Series title, so England's 60-year wait doesn't seem quite so impossible. The sweetest victories are the ones worth waiting for, and if there's a squad capable of ending that wait, this might be the one.”
Cliff Clavin's Boston Bar Guide
Ratzenberger offered insider tips for England fans visiting Boston. He recommended the original Cheers bar as a tourist spot but urged fans to also visit local haunts like The Greatest Bar, The Tam, Biddy Early's, the Black Rose, and Sullivan's Tap. “Locals will buy you a round, swap stories, and try to convince you that American football is far better than your ‘soccer’,” he said.
For beer, he suggested Sam Adams Lager, brewed in the city. “You can’t go to Boston and not tip back a Sam Adams Lager. It’s brewed in the city and part of their DNA at this point. But honestly, the best beer is the one you’re sharing with your new Boston friends.”
Ratzenberger's Love for England
Ratzenberger lived in London for nearly ten years starting in the early 1970s, working as a carpenter and performing improv with his college buddy Ray Hasset as “Sal’s Meat Market”. He recalled hitchhiking to Devon and sleeping under the stars at Stonehenge. “The kindness of strangers, the way audiences embraced Ray and me, the breathtaking beauty and history that’s still alive around every corner. Those are the things that stayed with me.”
He praised England’s “dry humour that can cut through anything,” “deep sense of community,” and “politeness that somehow coexists with world-class sarcasm.” He still receives fan letters and Cameo requests from England, saying, “People write to say they grew up watching it with their families, or that Norm and Cliff feel like regulars in their local pub.”
Cliff's Quirky Take
In character, Ratzenberger imagined what Cliff would tell England fans: “Well, it’s a little-known fact that sixty years of tournament heartbreak has actually built up a genetic resilience in the English bloodstream. Factor in that Boston’s maritime air perfectly mimics the barometric pressure of Wembley Stadium, and science dictates those Three Lions are practically halfway to the trophy already. It’s pure physics.”
Toy Story 5 and US Team
Ratzenberger also discussed his role in Toy Story 5, out June 19. “That little piggy bank has travelled the world with me. Kids and grown-ups love him because he’s loyal, has a big heart and is always there for his friends.” He expressed hope for the US team, currently 2-0, and praised the warmth of American fans. “The videos and social media posts from visitors amazed at how beautiful the country is and how kind the people are. That’s especially true of Boston.”
