Dempsey fires back at Marsch's claim USA players had to be begged to sing anthem

Clint Dempsey and Thierry Henry have hit back at Canada head coach Jesse Marsch after the former USA assistant claimed American players had to be begged to sing the national anthem during the 2010 World Cup, with Dempsey dismissing his old coach bluntly ahead of the United States’ opening match against Paraguay.

Marsch, who served under head coach Bob Bradley at the 2010 tournament before eventually taking the Canada job in 2024, opened up about what he felt was missing from the USA squad during that campaign. “In the U.S., we had to beg players to sing the national anthem,” Marsch said.

Dempsey, who scored in all three of his World Cup appearances and finished his international career with 54 goals in 141 caps, was unmoved. “I can’t take that guy too seriously,” he said. “It was an honor for me, growing up and representing my country. I wasn’t someone who would normally sing. I put my hand over my heart and pray to the good man upstairs.”

The 54-goal striker went further, pointing to the physical sacrifices he made wearing the shirt. “I bled for this country. I broke my nose playing for this country. I came back from two heart procedures and played for this country,” Dempsey said. “I’m not going to take advice from someone who switched to the other side and is singing for another country’s national anthem.”

Thierry Henry, speaking ahead of Canada’s opener, offered Marsch a more measured but pointed challenge. “You got to walk the walk and talk the talk. You can’t hide behind the fact that you are a decent team,” Henry said. “You took a job, by the way, that someone started… That team was already there when he arrived. Yes, he elevated them. Let’s see what he can do today against Bosnia.”

Marsch was a serious candidate to take over as USA head coach in 2023 before Gregg Berhalter was rehired, making his move to Canada all the more pointed in the eyes of former American players. Since taking charge of Canada, Marsch has posted a 12-12-5 record heading into his first World Cup as a head coach.

The 2010 USA squad, which Marsch helped guide, finished top of Group C before falling to Ghana in the round of 16.