Canada faced one of the largest games in their football history as they took on world champions Argentina in the Copa America semi-final on Tuesday. Coach Jesse Marsch has his eyes set on a “special victory” for his team.
American Marsch took over Canada just last May, but has already led them through an impressive run to the last four in what was their first appearance in the Copa Amerca.
But true to his upbeat, positive approach, the former Leeds United and RB Leipzig coach says there is no question of him or his team being satisfied or overawed by the occasion.
“My mind is wrapped totally around giving our team a chance to not just have a special experience but a real special victory,” Marsch has told a press conference.
Team Canada lost the opening game of the tournament 2-0 to Argentina, but Marsch feels they have improved in many ways since that game in Atlanta on June 20.
“If you just look at the amount of days that we’ve spent together it’s almost like the 18 days we’ve had since has doubled the amount of time we’ve spent together,” he said.
“Well, we invested in that time making sure we’ve been tactically clear, the relationships on the pitch are clear, and how to handle all moments is better,” he said.
“I just think that we’ve developed and we feel more confident in the roles and tactically how we’re playing,” he added.
What is more, Canada did what most people were expecting of them by advancing from Group A ahead of Chile and Peru, then posting that stunning quarterfinal win over Venezuela.
One area, however, that Marsch does say he hopes to see big improvement in is the handling of Lionel Messi.
“We didn’t do enough with Messi last game and he was able to run free at our goalkeeper too much. We won’t man-mark him but he will be added emphasis in how we will defend and how well we’re able to track him will be really important,” Marsch said.
“We got some certain things that we’ll try to do to try to make it difficult for him, but we know the number one thing is limiting his space.
“We don’t want him free and running at our back line, and running at our goalkeeper like last game, where that was not good enough, but we all know he is the greatest player to ever play the game,” he said.
– ‘Fearless’ approach –
Marsch has repeatedly talked of his team needing to play with a “fearless” approach and he said that was by no means simply about being brave.
“For me, fearlessness comes from the clarity of understanding roles and knowing that within the roles if you make mistakes that people are going to be able to help support you in those moments, tactically, mentally, psychologically, in every way.
“The more you can create an environment in which they understand what we’re trying to achieve, where it makes sense to them, and they know how to commit to it fully, the more engaged they are, the more they value it, the more they own it, and the more they become fearless because they trust what’s being built. And so that is what I try to do,” he said.
Argentina left-back Tagliafico says that the world champions are aware that the Canadians are more than just a hard-running, physical side.
“Canada is a compact team, playing with high lines; we know each other well. We will need to find a way to hurt them because not only are they physically strong, but they have a good game to which we must be attentive,” he said.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni believes Canada’s performances have commanded respect.
“Canada has placed complications on everybody and we’ll try to make the game go our way with our game and with our weapons, we hope to take a grip on the game,” he added.
Scaloni hinted that veteran winger Angel Di Maria, playing in his final tournament, could start in the semifinal and link up again with Messi.
“It is a possibility, they have played together and then he has been on the bench. That is the peace of mind we have, but yes, it is a possibility,” he said.