Key Takeaways
- The Canadian men’s national team earned a 1-0 win over Guatemala in an international friendly, with Jacen Russell-Rowe scoring the winning goal.
- The match was played with a makeshift lineup, as many of Canada’s top players were not available due to the game not being during a FIFA international window.
- Coach Jesse Marsch was impressed with the performance of the young players, who showed discipline and concentration in playing the kind of football that Marsch wanted.
- The game was an opportunity for Marsch to evaluate new players and give them experience, with several players making their debut for the national team.
- The win was a positive result for Canada, who will play four high-profile friendlies in preparation for the World Cup.
Introduction to the Match
The Canadian men’s national team played an international friendly against Guatemala, with Coach Jesse Marsch using the opportunity to evaluate new players and give them experience. The match was played with a makeshift lineup, as many of Canada’s top players were not available due to the game not being during a FIFA international window. Despite this, the team was able to earn a 1-0 win, with Jacen Russell-Rowe scoring the winning goal. The goal came in the 66th minute, with Russell-Rowe heading in a cross from Malik Henry. The win was a positive result for Canada, who will play four high-profile friendlies in preparation for the World Cup.
The Match Details
The match was played at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, with a predominantly pro-Guatemalan crowd in attendance. The Canadian team was made up of young North American-based players who are out of season with their pro clubs. The only virtual locks to make the World Cup roster who were in Marsch’s starting 11 were Toronto FC’s Richie Laryea and Jonathan Osorio and LAFC’s Mathieu Choinière. The team was able to hold off Guatemala’s attacks and earn a clean sheet, with goalkeeper James Pantemis making several key saves. The win was a testament to the team’s discipline and concentration, as they were able to play the kind of football that Marsch wanted.
The Performance of the Young Players
The game was an opportunity for Marsch to evaluate new players and give them experience, with several players making their debut for the national team. One of the standout performers was Malik Henry, who was only named to the Canadian roster at the last minute due to an injury to Jacob Shaffelburg. Henry was able to make an impact on the game, providing the cross that led to the winning goal. Other young players who impressed included Ralph Priso, who was outstanding in helping to marshal a Canadian defence that gave away next to nothing in a clean-sheet performance. Priso, a 23-year-old centre back, was aggressive on both sides of the ball and displayed plenty of composure when playing through Guatemala’s defensive press.
Marsch’s Impressions
Marsch was impressed with the performance of the young players, who showed discipline and concentration in playing the kind of football that Marsch wanted. "What I wanted was a performance that looked like our team, that looked like our identity, and that was the challenge I put forward for the players. And I think that all of them delivered in a really good way," Marsch told reporters after the win. Marsch was also impressed with the way the newcomers embraced the challenge, with many of them making their debut for the national team. "I could go down the list, but I will just say this: the best part was the new players knew their roles. They knew how we play. They committed to what we wanted. We were able to get another clean sheet. We didn’t give away, really, any chances. We were aggressive. We were playing in their end. We were creating set pieces. We were creating chances, and we won the game, and I think in a deserved manner," Marsch said.
The Future of the Team
The win was a positive result for Canada, who will play four high-profile friendlies in preparation for the World Cup. Many of the players who featured against Guatemala won’t be part of Marsch’s World Cup squad, but they will likely be in his long-term plans after the World Cup. Marsch was proud of the way the team performed, despite being made up of players who had never played together before. "I thought it was amazing that we have this group that’s literally never been together, we had (so many) new guys that have never been in with the national team, and yet we still managed to look exactly like we wanted to look like — that made me proud as their coach," Marsch said. The team will look to build on this performance as they prepare for the World Cup, with Marsch using the upcoming friendlies to fine-tune his squad and make final preparations for the tournament.
