Canada Aims for Memorable Victory Against Argentina
Canada is gearing up for one of their biggest football matches as they face Argentina in the Copa America semi-finals on Tuesday. Coach Jesse Marsch is hopeful for a “special victory.”
Marsch, an American who took over the Canadian team in May, has led them to an impressive performance in their first Copa America. Despite the high stakes, Marsch remains positive and confident.
“My focus is on giving our team a chance not just for a special experience but a real special victory,” Marsch said in a press conference.
Canada lost 2-0 to Argentina in their first game of the tournament, but Marsch believes the team has improved significantly since then. “The 18 days we’ve spent together have almost doubled the time we’ve had together,” he explained.
Marsch emphasized the team’s development and increased confidence in their roles and tactics. Canada exceeded expectations by advancing from Group A, ahead of Chile and Peru, and securing a quarter-final win against Venezuela.
A key area for improvement is handling Lionel Messi. “We didn’t manage Messi well in the last game, and he had too many chances against our goalkeeper. We won’t man-mark him, but we’ll focus on limiting his space,” Marsch said.
Marsch also stressed the importance of a fearless approach, which he believes comes from understanding roles and supporting each other. “The more the team understands and commits to our strategy, the more fearless they become,” he said.
Argentina’s left-back Nicolas Tagliafico acknowledged that Canada is not just a physically strong team but also tactically sound. “Canada is compact with high lines, and we need to find a way to challenge them,” he said.
Argentina’s coach Lionel Scaloni expressed respect for Canada’s performances and hinted that veteran winger Angel Di Maria might start in the semi-final alongside Messi. “It’s a possibility. They’ve played together before, and it gives us peace of mind,” Scaloni said.
