This will be Canada’s first appearance as a guest nation at the Copa America, and expectations ahead of their debut are… mixed.
In Alphonso Davies — who has been appointed captain ahead of the tournament — and Jonathan David, they possess genuine star quality; arguably the two best players in North and Central American football. Vice-captain Stephen Eustaquio has grown into his all-action midfield role at the heart of the team, Ismael Kone has quickly become indispensable beside him, while tough-tackling full-back Alistair Johnston hit a rich vein of late-season form in Scotland with Celtic.
Nonetheless, since losing influential manager John Herdman to MLS club Toronto in August, their form has taken a wobble.
Interim coach Mauro Biello held the fort through the Nations League campaign at the end of last year, and while the appointment of Jesse Marsch last month is undoubtedly exciting, there are concerns that he hasn’t had the time to fine-tune his high-energy style of play in time for this tournament. Marsch’s first two games have been testing friendlies against the Netherlands and France, and while the first ended in a breathless 4-0 defeat, their goalless draw in the other was an encouraging sign that Canada can adapt their intensity and stay compact.
Source link : https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/live-blogs/argentina-canada-live-updates-2024-copa-america-score-result-messi/HZ9OX4nBLQ5r/
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Publish date : 2024-06-20 09:10:00
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