Canada's coach defends pride in national anthem after U.S. criticism
Jesse Marsch's comments about Canadian players singing the anthem drew pushback from American soccer legend Clint Dempsey, who broke his nose playing for the U.S.
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Canada's men's national soccer team coach Jesse Marsch faced criticism Friday from one of America's greatest soccer players over remarks about national pride.
Marsch, speaking ahead of Canada's World Cup match against Bosnia & Herzegovina on Friday, June 12, in Toronto, praised his players for their patriotism. "Every one of these boys is incredibly Canadian, and the pride that they have in putting on the jersey, representing the country, hearing the national anthem…in the U.S., sometimes we had to beg players to sing the national anthem," Marsch told reporters.
"These guys sing the national anthem, 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."
Marsch's comments caught the attention of Clint Dempsey, one of the most successful American soccer players of all time, who worked as an analyst on Fox Sports. "He really said that? Man, I can't take this guy too seriously," Dempsey responded. "It was an honor for me to grow 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."
Dempsey highlighted his own commitment: "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."
Dempsey, who played for the U.S. men's national team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup when Marsch was an assistant coach, finished with a sharp remark. "I'm not going to take advice from someone who switched to the other side and 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."
Tension between the U.S. and Canada continued off the pitch. Before Friday's match, an audible amount of boos erupted from Canadian fans when the American flag was trotted onto the pitch in Toronto.
The United States got off to a strong start at the World Cup, defeating Paraguay 4-1 in Los Angeles. If the U.S. wins Group D, they could face Canada in the Round of 32 on July 1 in Santa Clara, California, setting up a North American knockout battle.