Jesse Marsch believes Canada can mount "something special" as they aim to build towards the 2026 World Cup, starting with the Copa America.
Marsch's team somewhat surprisingly made it through Group A behind Argentina, at the expense of Chile, who won back-to-back Copa America titles as recently as 2015 and 2016.
In their maiden Copa America, Canada will now go up against Group B winners Venezuela for a place in the last four.
And looking ahead to the next World Cup, which Canada will co-host along with the United States and Mexico, Marsch thinks the sky is the limit.
"I was thinking, 'Why did I take this job with those three opponents [coming] up?'" Marsch joked in an interview with FOX Soccer NOW, with his team having played pre-tournament friendlies against the Netherlands and France.
"I knew when I took the job that that the schedule was going to be very difficult, and by the way – put Peru and Chile in there as well – the first five opponents I knew were going to be very difficult.
"But I thought that it would give us a chance to create really high standards for how we wanted to play and that these games would show the players that we need to uphold ourselves to very high standards. I felt that if we could execute, then we could have some success.
"There's real excitement in Canada about the team and the way we've played. That comes with, I think, a real hunger to keep this thing moving forward."
Canada have fared better than their 2026 World Cup co-hosts USA, who crashed out in the group stage.
"I would love to say I'm just focused on what we’re doing here in Canada, but obviously, I’m paying attention, as always, to the U.S. men's national team and, like you, I’m sad," Marsch added.
"I'm disappointed by the performances, by the lack of discipline. There’s a lot of things that I think we've tried to be about, about the game in the U.S., and we’ve always believed in this group of players.
"I’ll tell you: I'm glad, I'm here, man. Because the people that I work with and the players that I work with, the things that we know that we can achieve together, the support that we have from inside the country, the support system for this entire national team is so positive, so I think it gives us a real chance to develop something and build something and be ready for a big tournament come 2026."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Venezuela - Salomon Rondon
Rondon has scored two goals at this tournament for Venezuela.
Only three players can better Rondon's 1.98 xG across the tournament so far, while the 34-year-old has had 13 shots, which matches the total of the tournament's leading scorer Lautaro Martinez.
Canada - Jonathan David
Canada might have made it through, though they did only score one goal across their three Group A games. They are the fourth team to advance from the group stage in the Copa America despite scoring only one goal, following Mexico in 2001, Uruguay in 2007, and Colombia in 2015.
That came from Jonathan David, who is Canada's key attacker, and if they are to reach the last four, he is likely to be crucial.
MATCH PREDICTION: VENEZUELA WIN
Marsch's confidence is not shared by Opta's model, which fancies Venezuela to win in Arlington.
Venezuela have lost only two of their last 10 matches played in the United States, including friendlies, winning six of those games (D2). Additionally, La Vinotinto kept a clean sheet on seven of those occasions (W5 D2), with Colombia, Italy, and Ecuador being the only teams to score against them.
One more goal will match Venezuela's highest scoring tally in a single edition of the tournament, having scored seven goals in the 1967 and 2011 tournaments.
Venezuela are also unbeaten in their last four matches against teams from CONCACAF in this tournament (W3 D1).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Venezuela - 48.7%
Canada - 26.9%
Draw - 24.4%
Copa America exit a 'learning experience' for Panama, says Christiansen
Thomas Christiansen believes Panama's exit from the Copa America will prove to be a "learning experience" for his players following their defeat to Colombia.
Panama had no answers to a James Rodriguez-inspired performance, bowing out of the competition after a 5-0 defeat to Los Cafeteros in Arizona.
Christiansen's side reached the knockout stages of the tournament for the first time in their history, having fallen in the group stages in 2016.
Panama finished second in Group C in this year's edition behind Uruguay, while also knocking out hosts United States out in the process.
Los Canaleros knew the enormity of the task ahead of them and have now failed to beat Colombia in their 15 fixtures against them (drawn four, lost 11).
However, head coach Christiansen was proud of his team's efforts and knows his players will return stronger from the defeat.
"I am very proud of my players, of what they have achieved in this Copa America," Christiansen said.
"Of course, no one likes losing and much the less 5-0, but we have to commend the players for this Copa America.
"It did not end as we wished, but this is also a learning experience."
'I want to be the best player at the Copa America' – Colombia's James has sights set on glory
James Rodriguez wants to be the Copa America's standout player, and is going some way to being just that.
Colombia reached the semi-finals with a thumping 5-0 defeat of Panama on Saturday, with James taking a starring role as Los Cafeteros claimed their biggest Copa Ameria win.
James scored a penalty and supplied two assists, including a delicious ball for Luis Diaz to make it 3-0 just before half-time.
The former Real Madrid playmaker, who hardly featured for club side Sao Paulo last season, has now created five goals at this edition of the tournament, equalling the record haul for assists (since Opta began collecting such data) at the Copa America, alongside Lionel Messi's five in 2021.
And having missed out on a call-up to Colombia's squad in 2021, James made it clear he plans on being the tournament's standout performer.
"A tough match, they are very strong, but we played well, we knew how to score the goals quickly and that gave us control of the match," James said.
"Did I want to be the best player of the Copa? Yes, I wanted to have a very good Cup, help my team-mates to go far.
"We are going until the last day, let's hope we can reach that great final that we all want, we are going through a good moment too.
"The most important thing is still to come. We hope to reach the final."
Saturday's match was the second time James has directly contributed to three goals in a competitive match for Colombia, after scoring and providing two assists against Japan in the 2014 World Cup (4-1), in which he won the Golden Boot.
Colombia are now unbeaten in 27 games, matching their best such streak, and will face Uruguay, who overcame Brazil 4-2 on penalties, for a place in the final.
Trust the process, says Pickford after penalty shootout heroics for England
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford preached "trust the process" after his penalty shootout heroics against Switzerland.
Pickford got down low to keep out Switzerland's first spot-kick, denying Manuel Akanji.
While the 30-year-old could not prevent the Swiss scoring from their next three attempts, England stayed perfect through the shootout, with Trent Alexander-Arnold holding his nerve to send Gareth Southgate's team into the Euro 2024 semi-finals.
Pickford has now saved four of the 14 penalties he has faced in shootouts at major tournaments, twice as many as all other England goalkeepers combined saved between 1990 and 2012 (two out of 36).
Images shared widely on social media showed Pickford's water bottle had a list of each of Switzerland's penalty takers, and a direction in which he should dive.
And the Everton shot-stopper explained how he had to adapt his routine slightly in Dusseldorf, though he still trusted his process regardless.
He told ITV Sport: "The referee didn't let me do my usual process so I've had to adapt. I like to give the lads the ball, it helps me with a bit of focus, and staying calm, but I could only do it on the first one – luckily I saved it!
"I trust my process, what I do, with my mentality, that I'm going to save at least one for the lads.
"But massive respect to the lads that stood up and took one and to score in the way they did – huge credit.
Two lads making their major tournament debuts in this tournament, and then Bukayo [Saka] coming off the back of 2021 and stepping up – it shows the character in our squad.
"We've got a quick turnaround but we're still here, and that's what we want and what the nation wants."
For just the second time in their 10th shootout at a major tournament, England scored every single one of their penalties in the shootout (5/5), also doing so against Spain at Euro 1996 (4/4).
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
