Clint Dempsey has slammed Canada boss Jesse Marsch after he claimed he had to “beg” United States players to sing the national anthem during his time in the setup.
Marsch, who was a USMNT international during his playing days, was speaking ahead of his side’s World Cup opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto when he drew on his experience as his home country’s assistant coach to Bob Bradley.
“Every one of these boys is incredibly Canadian,” he said. “And the pride that they have in putting on the jersey, representing the country, hearing the national anthem.
“In the US, sometimes we had to beg players to sing the national anthem. These guys [the Canadian players] 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.”
Former Tottenham and Fulham forward Dempsey took issue with the statement and responded by insisting he would not hear criticism from a man who “switched to the other side”.
Dempsey, who shared the field with Marsch for the US during a friendly win over China in 2007 before playing under him between 2010 and 2011, is his country’s all-time record goalscorer with 57 goals.
“He really said that? Man, I can’t take this guy too seriously,” Dempsey bemoaned on Fox Sports. “It was an honour for me growing up and representing my country. When the national anthem happened – I wasn’t someone who would usually sing – I put my hand over my heart and prayed for the good man upstairs.
“I’m someone who’s bled for this country, I’ve broke my nose playing for this country, I’ve come back for two heart procedures and played for this country.
“I’m not going to take advice from someone who’s switched to the other side and is singing another country’s national anthem. And as my boy Titi [Thierry Henry] would say, stay in your own lane and it looks like he’s in the dang moped so worry about your own team.”
The USA begin their World Cup campaign after Canada’s match with Bosnia and Herzegovina, facing Paraguay in Los Angeles.
Discover more from NAIRAVOICE.COM.NG
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
