Clint Dempsey fires back at Jesse Marsch over national anthem comments

Clint Dempsey, the US men’s national team’s joint all-time leading scorer, has fired back at Jesse Marsch after the Canada coach suggested that American players had to be begged to sing the Star-Spangled Banner.

Speaking to reporters this week before Canada’s World Cup opener – a 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday in Toronto – Marsch was praising the pride of his own team when he drew a comparison with US players. Marsch was an assistant for the USMNT from 2010 to 2011, including at the World Cup in South Africa, and became the first American to manage Canada when he was appointed two years ago.

“In the US sometimes we had to beg players to sing the national anthem,” Marsch said on Thursday. “These guys belt it out to the top of their lungs because they want to show the country how proud they are to be here, to be Canadians and to represent what Canada is.”

Dempsey, who is at the World Cup as an analyst for Fox Sports, had choice words in response.

“He really said that?” Dempsey said in a pregame show before Canada’s match. “Man, I can’t take this guy too seriously. It was an honor for me growing up and represent my country. When the national anthem happened, I wasn’t someone who normally would sing. I put my hand over my heart, and I’d pray to the good man upstairs. I’m someone who’s bled for this country. I broke my nose playing for this country. I’ve come back from two heart procedures and played for this country.

“I’m not going to take advice from someone who switched to the other side and is singing another country’s national anthem. And as my boy [Thierry Henry] would say, stay in your own lane. It looks like he’s in a dang moped, so worry about your own team.”

When Gregg Berhalter’s contract as USMNT coach expired after the 2022 World Cup, Marsch was considered a frontrunner for the job following his exit from Leeds United. Instead, the US Soccer Federation hired Berhalter again. Marsch, who also made two appearances for the US as a player, has said he “wasn’t treated very well” by US Soccer during its manager search.

Dempsey played for the US at the 2010 World Cup, when Marsch was an assistant on Bob Bradley’s staff. He is tied with Landon Donovan atop the USMNT’s all-time goals list with 57.

The US opened their World Cup against Paraguay in Los Angeles on Friday. Canada will face Qatar in their second game on 18 June.