Clint Dempsey talks World Cup spot, Klinsmann, and style of play

When you look at the United States men's national team, there are several guys that stand out when it comes to giving good quotes. Alejandro Bedoya isn't afraid to speak his mind whether it be negative or positive. Geoff Cameron is in the same boat. Then, of course, Michael Bradley has been known to be vocal from time to time. Clint Dempsey isn't one of those guys.

The U.S. veteran is very much a lead by example player. When he speaks before or after a match he's usually very calculated and brief in his statements. However, on rare occasions when he does go in-depth in an interview he comes off as incredibly insightful and eloquent.

Deuce appeared on Colin Cowherd's talk show on Friday for a very revealing 10-minute interview. A multitude of topics were covered and he didn't hold back.

On the fourth-place Copa America finish:

"It's kinda mixed emotions. You're happy you got the to semifinal. You want to find yourself in a final and trying to play for silverware. So then you find yourself in a third/fourth-place game, a chance for a rematch against Colombia. And then to come up short, you're still happy to get into a semifinal but still you feel you should've got third-place from the tournament at the end of the day."

On Klinsmann and playing younger players:

"That's a tough one. I think being a coach is a tough job..."

"It's difficult to get that balance. You got the guys who have proven in the past in big games that they can step up for you, so you have faith in them. Then you have the young guys who you haven't seen what they can do in really big games, but you gotta give those kids the opportunity to sink or swim because I was lucky enough to have that opportunity. It's just finding that right balance of when to put people in that opportunity to sink or swim."

On identifying a style of play for the USMNT:

"It's about growing that talent, finding the right academies, and developing a style that you want to play in the States. We have a lot of different people from a lot of different countries and everybody has different styles. It's about trying to figure out what our style is as a country. How do we want to play? Do we want to be a team that possessing the ball and being creative and creating chances? Are we going to be a counter-attacking team? I think there's a lot of questions you gotta ask yourself about what is going to be your country's style of play."

On a possibly diminished role at the 2018 World Cup:

"That does appeal to me that I could come into a game and change it, I wouldn't necessarily say I wouldn't do this or do that, but I would be open to it. It's an honor to represent your country and I've been able to do that 130 times and been able to play in three different World Cups. That would be nice to be able to say I was in four. Not a lot of people can say that."

Those are just some of the tidbits from a great overall interview. Dempsey goes on to discuss what it's like to play against Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and whether or not the 'pay to play' system is hurting the identification of blue collar players such as  himself.

Watch the full video here: