LOS ANGELES, June 13 -- The sharpest line of the World Cup's opening week was not scored on a field. It was delivered on a pregame set by Clint Dempsey, aimed at a coach who used to wear the same crest he did. "Stay in your own lane," the former United States captain said of Canada manager Jesse Marsch. "It looks like he's in a dang moped."

The feud started with patriotism, which is usually where these things start. At a press conference on Thursday, Marsch praised his Canadian players for singing the national anthem and belting it "to the top of their lungs," and contrasted them with his old employer. "In the U.S.," he said, "sometimes we had to beg players to sing the national anthem." Marsch would know the building he was talking abou...