Jesse Marsch gathered his players and staff in a huddle and then reached for the right words. ‘You are Canadian heroes,’ he told them. ‘This sport has a big future because of you.’
It was all a bit theatrical but that is Marsch. ‘People like to say it’s performative… I don’t give a s***,’ the Canada coach said afterwards. Why would he? His side had just carved out another slice of history.
Because in the second minute of stoppage time in this last-32 clash against South Africa, a cross was headed clear only as far as Canada midfielder Stephen Eustaquio.
He brought the ball down with his chest and then fired home from just outside the box. For Canada, it was the biggest goal in the country’s history, the goal that takes them into the last 16 for the first time.
For everyone else? It was a godsend. Until then, fans faced the prospect of sitting through extra time and penalties. Until then, no one would have enjoyed this except the blazers over at US Soccer.
Marsch was left ‘devastated’ after being snubbed for the USA job in 2023. This was his chance to hop over the border and show his countrymen what might have been.
Stephen Eustaquio scored an injury-time winner as Canada beat South Africa at the World Cup
Jesse Marsch’s team is now into the last 16 of the World Cup for the very first time
Marsch gathered his players and staff in a huddle and told them: ‘You are Canadian heroes,’
Instead, Canada and South Africa stunk the place out for 91 minutes. It was a miserable advert for Gianni Infantino’s expansion project. The only saving grace? Up in the posh seats, the FIFA president had to put up with this, too.
Marsch won’t care. Shortly after full-time, he stretched his arms out, stared up to the heavens and soaked up the moment. Once he calms down, the Canada boss will breathe a huge sigh of relief. Canada sit more than 20 places above South Africa in the FIFA rankings. Now the Netherlands or Morocco await in Houston.
This was the first time either Canada or South Africa had made it to the knockout rounds in a combined seven attempts. Never before had a World Cup host nation played on foreign soil, either. That was Canada’s punishment for failing to top Group B.
As for Marsch? He had long dreamed of coaching a knockout game in the US but this wasn’t Plan A – belting out ‘O Canada’ and hearing boos. It is funny where life can take you.
The sight of Marsch singing the Canadian national anthem didn’t do much for relations between the 52-year-old and his compatriots. They were already strained after he missed out on the USMNT job and then claimed American players had to be ‘begged’ to sing ‘The Star-Spangled Banner.’
Most of this match hardly enamored Marsch to the US public, either. It was awful. Who could blame the crowd for booing large chunks of both halves?
It took 44 minutes for any real drama. First, from a Canada corner, Moise Bombito’s header was cleared off the line before Tajon Buchanan’s shot was saved. Moments later, Richie Laryea went down in the box. Replays showed that Khuliso Mudau’s boot brushed the ball.
But Marsch wasn’t convinced – he stormed on to the pitch at halftime and had to be restrained. He ought to have been screaming for Alphonso Davies to warm up instead.
This was the first time either Canada or South Africa had made it to the knockout rounds
The ball was headed out to Eustaquio, who brought it down and then fired home
The Canada captain missed the group stages due to a hamstring issue – despite Marsch messing with their rivals by insisting he was ready to play. The Bayern Munich star was ‘truly available’ for this one, apparently. But he did not make it off the bench until 15 minutes from time.
It’s not saying much but Canada were the better side and they turned up the pressure after Davies took the armband off Eustaquio. But, in the end, it was the midfielder who led his country into uncharted waters.
‘I am American and I’m proud to be American but I do think that the ideals and the characteristics of Canadian people fit me really well,’ Marsch said.
‘They value kindness, they value generosity. I think it’s a country that is very welcoming to outsiders, appreciates you for the things you do more than the things you say. And sometimes I know that Americans, we get a certain rap for being boisterous, for being arrogant, for being outwardly vocal.
‘And I know that in many ways that does describe me – or at least people love to describe me that way. But again, I don’t give a s***. All I care about is working with the teams I work with and the players I work with and helping them be the best that they can be.’
