United States Men's National Team: Clint Dempsey expresses worry about team's abilities in upcoming home World Cup
Supporting the U.S. Men's National Team (USMNT) ain't been a walk in the park for former captain Clint Dempsey. After crashing out of the group stage at the 2023 Copa América, the team got beat by Panama in the CONCACAF Nations League and lost to our neighbors up north, Canada, in the third-place match.
Mauricio Pochettino, who took over as head coach in September 2024, has a record that's got folks scratchin' their heads: five wins in eight matches without a single draw and three losses - those victories against teams ranked lower than the US in the FIFA rankings.
Dempsey says he's got a six or seven on the concerned scale. "We bombed out of the Copa América, and the way we lost the Nations League is concerning. But I still believe in this team, and they've got a lot of quality, and I think they can turn things around," he tells CNN Sports.
While Dempsey's optimistic about the team's potential, he reckons some players might feel a bit uneasy after Pochettino's recent interview where he expressed a desire to manage Spurs again someday. "I don't know if that's goin' in the dressing room, but at the end of the day, it's the players who gotta step up and get it done."
Dempsey and Landon Donovan, top scorers for the USMNT, haven't shied away from callin' out the current crop of players publicly. They've even questioned their commitment to the US badge. Dempsey realizes his criticisms come with an asterisk; the last time he played for the USMNT was a nightmare 2-1 loss to Trinidad and Tobago that resulted in the US missin' out on a World Cup for the first time since 1986.
The failure to qualify in 2018 led to a wave of new talent, but it doesn't feel like the team's made significant strides since. "They fought hard to get to the 2022 World Cup, performed well, but since the World Cup, it seems like we've taken another step back. We've got players like Antonee Robinson at Fulham, who's havin' a great season, Christian Pulisic, AC Milan, who's doin' well, and players like Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie. I want people to fight for each other."
While the team's currently missing a consistent goalkeeper like Brad Friedel or Tim Howard, and a solid number 9 like in the past, Dempsey doesn't blame Christian Pulisic for being a substandard captain. The team's leadership can't be pinned on just one player, he reckons.
Dempsey compares the current debate to his experiences at the 2014 Brazil World Cup, sayin', "Tim Howard was on that team, and even though I was a captain, I saw him as one of the captains. He was one of the leaders as well, so it takes more than one captain to kind of step up and get everybody on track."
The USMNT ain't all doom and gloom, though. "There's quality in the side; it's just about gettin' the best out of them. And when your back's against the wall, just kind of fight for each other."
- Despite the challenges faced by the U.S. Men's National Team (USMNT), former captain Clint Dempsey believes in their potential to turn things around, even after their disappointing performances in the Copa América and CONCACAF Nations League.
- Mauricio Pochettino, who took over as coach in September 2024, has a record that has raised questions, with five wins in eight matches, no draws, and three losses, against teams ranked lower than the US in the FIFA rankings.
- Dempsey's optimism about the team's potential is somewhat tempered by the uncertainty some players might feel about Pochettino's stated desire to manage Spurs again one day.
- The USMNT's struggles were highlighted by Dempsey and Landon Donovan, with criticisms directed at the current crop of players regarding their commitment to the US badge. Despite this, Dempsey believes the team has the quality to fight for each other, with players like Antonee Robinson, Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, and Weston McKennie capable of leading the team.
