The 2024 Copa America is nearing its end, and Canada, participating in the tournament for the first time, will face 15-time Copa America champions Uruguay in the third-place match. Ahead of the game, Canadian head coach Jesse Marsch expressed his desire to use the Copa America as a springboard to continue building on the growth of football in Canada, hoping to secure a third-place finish as a catalyst for development.
Marsch, who previously coached Leeds United, took charge of the Canadian national team five weeks before the start of the Copa America. He believes that Canada, as one of the co-hosts, possesses a solid foundation for football, but there’s still much work to be done to genuinely compete with the world’s elite. He emphasizes that the foundation for this transformation lies in nurturing more homegrown talent.
Marsch said, “We are working hard to reach a high level, but to truly become a team that can withstand pressure and big games, we need to do a lot more. From a physical, mental, and tactical standpoint, we have to find ways to accelerate the players’ growth. When you play against Argentina and France, you see the pace and physicality of top players; that’s the level we need to reach. The truth is, there are a lot of great players in Canada, and we need to nurture them in a truly high-level football environment.”
Canada’s Copa America journey is not over, and Marsch hopes his team can continue to bring joy to the Canadian people. He said, “I hope the national team’s experience at the Copa America will spark a passion for football in this hockey-loving country. I hope we can grow the sport domestically, and I hope people will remember this moment because it will change the trajectory of football development in Canada.”
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