“Stick to what you know” – Premier League star criticizes Canada coach Jesse Marsch during live World Cup broadcast
Clint Dempsey didn’t hold back in responding to Canada’s coach, Jesse Marsch, after Marsch said American players sometimes need to be begged to sing the national anthem before games.
Earlier this week, Marsch praised the passion of the Canadian team and compared it to his time with the US Men’s National Team (USMNT). Marsch, 52, was an assistant coach for the US under Bob Bradley between 2010 and 2011, including the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. He also played twice for the US before becoming the first American to coach Canada two years ago.
After Canada came back to draw 1-1 with Bosnia and Herzegovina in their World Cup opener, while the US beat Paraguay 4-1, Marsch said, “In the US, sometimes we had to beg players to sing the national anthem. These guys sing it loudly because they want to show how proud they are to be Canadians and represent Canada.”
Dempsey, who played for the US at the 2010 World Cup when Marsch was assistant coach, was clearly upset by those words. Speaking as a Fox Sports analyst, he responded, “He really said that? I can’t take him seriously. It was an honor for me to represent my country. I didn’t always sing the anthem, but I put my hand over my heart and prayed. I’ve given my all for this country—I even broke my nose playing for the US. I’ve come back from two heart procedures to play for my country.
“I’m not taking advice from someone who switched sides and now sings another country’s anthem. Like my friend Thierry Henry says, stay in your own lane. Looks like he’s riding a moped, so he should focus on his own team.”
If things had gone differently, Marsch might have been the US coach this summer. He was a top candidate when Gregg Berhalter’s contract ended after the 2022 World Cup. But the US re-hired Berhalter, who was later fired in July 2024 after the US failed to get through the group stage at Copa America. Now, Mauricio Pochettino, former Tottenham and Chelsea boss, is leading the US, while Marsch remains in charge of Canada.