'Fine line of being negative and being an idiot' - Marcelo Balboa calls out fellow former USMNT players for excessive vitriol toward Mauricio Pochettino's national team

Balboa says some former players crossed the line
Colorado Rapids legend blames social media culture
Sees difference between criticism and attention-seeking

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Former USMNT defender Marcel Balboa acknowledged that – while criticism is inevitable – several ex-players “cross the line” with their vitriol over the current men’s national team. He suggested those critics ultimately want American soccer to grow and the national team to succeed, and thus questioned the upside of harsh comments.

“We cross the line because of social media, we cross the line because we want clicks and likes and we want people to banter back and forth,” Balboa said on CBS Sports Golazo America. “I will always be a U.S national team supporter… Tell me what good it does as a dude beating up Christian Pulisic every day or Tyler Adams or Weston McKennie? It makes no sense, man, it makes no sense to me. But I get it, that’s part of our business. This is something we’ve always wanted. We wanted this kind of pressure as athletes.u0026nbsp;

“We’ve never had it in soccer and now we have it. So, I understand it. But I think there’s a fine line of being negative and being an idiot and then being, you know, critical on certain people. But listen, win or lose, I’ve got I’ve got their back and I always will… Negativity is easy, but positive comments are always very difficult to come across. So I’d rather stay to the positive side, and back Christian Pulisic and those guys knowing how they think. Because we all played on the national team.”

The Colorado Rapids legend said, despite some struggles over the past two u0026nbsp;years, that he’s optimistic about the USMNT ahead of the 2026 كأس العالم.

“I think we labelled it too quick and too early as media, myself included, that we said this is a golden generation,” Balboa said. “That’s a lot of pressure on a team that has these kind of players. But you know what, congratulations, that you’re an athlete, you’re representing your country and we’re going to put you on the stage and we’re going to call you, because no one’s ever played at AC Milan, or at Juventus, or in England, like they’re doing.

“So, you know what? I think this group is very talented. I think this group is probably – I wouldn’t say the best team we’ve ever had, but I would say this is one of the top ones we’ve had… they know what they’ve already lived their first World Cup, just like we did in ’90. So again, for me it’s, you know, what ‘Do your thing man.’ I mean, listen, all the, all the negative stuff all he does is fuel to fire.”

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With the USMNT facing unprecedented expectations ahead of the 2026 World Cup on home soil, the discourse surrounding the team has intensified. The squad lost four straight matches before reeling off five straight wins to reach the Gold Cup final.u0026nbsp;

Following their Gold Cup final loss to Mexico, the USMNT will regroup for the September international break where they’ll face South Korea and Japan.