When Les Rouges take the pitch at BMO Field against Panama on Tuesday night, the only things that will be the same from the last time Los Canaleros visited Toronto for that World Cup qualifier in 2021 are the colour of CanMNT’s kits and Alphonso Davies’ ability to destroy sleepy opposition.
Jesse Marsch will finally experience the thrill of managing the Canadian men’s national team on Canadian soil as Davies, Jonathan’s David and Osorio, Richie Laryea & Co. play their first match in Canada since a befuddling second-leg CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final loss to Jamaica last November that ended CanMNT’s 22-game unbeaten run at BMO Field.
That loss 11 months ago forced the CanMNT to qualify for Copa América through a one-game playoff triumph over Trinidad and Tobago in March. It was worth it.
Marsch was hired in May and guided Canada to impressive performances against the Netherlands and France before leading the CanMNT to the semi-finals at Copa América and a hugely impressive fourth place finish.
“We’re only scratching the surface, for me, in terms of how good I believe they can become,” said Marsch after training at Toronto FC’s Downsview Park training facility on Monday. “And obviously they’ve accelerated the learning curve with how they’ve performed and how they’ve adapted.”
No one could’ve predicted that the CanMNT would’ve performed as well as they have in the 10 games since Marsch took charge. The American has taken “the brotherhood”, that John Herdman walked away from last summer to take the Toronto FC job, to a whole new level.
“Because my vision is not to win a game, not to get out of the group, but to be winners at the World Cup,” he said. “Of course, can we raise the trophy? It’s not time to speak about that yet. But we want to think on home soil that against any opponent, that we can be the aggressor, that we can be the better team and that we can find ways to win on the biggest stage.”
Copa América was the second biggest stage Canada could stand on, and not only did they show they belong but have the country dreaming of new heights in two years when the FIFA World Cup comes to BMO Field.
Panama will be the third straight CONCACAF foe Marsch has faced after CanMNT beat the United States in Kansas City and drew Mexico in Dallas last month.
After a nearly week-long camp in Montréal where the CanMNT connected with the community and had the opportunity to work together in a far less intense environment than experienced in the summer, Tuesday’s test is just another measurement of the trajectory this program is on under Marsch and Canada Soccer general secretary and CEO Kevin Blue.
“The reward for us is the growth of the game. We had dreams once in terms of where we could be as professionals. So when you ask for rewards for us, it’s just showing the younger generation that it is possible that you as a Canadian can achieve your dreams as a footballer. I think that, in itself, is a great reward, for us to know we’re impacting the next generation.”
Marsch has made a huge impact in just a few short months. The south end will surely show their appreciation regardless of the October weather.
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Publish date : 2024-10-14 10:23:00
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