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Calgary Herald
6 days ago
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Canada men's soccer: Phoneys will be sniffed out, and kicked out
Article content For Canadian soccer fans, the Iceteca was more than just the seminal moment in Canada's incipient and unexpected run to the World Cup. It was magical. Article content Cyle Larin's brace. Sam Adekugbe's effervescent leap into the pile of sideline snow. The -9°C temperatures. The first win in 45 years over Mexico in a World Cup qualifier. The emergence as The Team to beat in North America. Article content The 2-1 triumph, the first over Mexico in 20 years, boosted Les Rouges atop the qualifying table. It was 376 days before Canada would ultimately kick off against Belgium at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, their first trip to the tournament since 1986. Article content Article content Article content The one-year countdown to the 2026 World Cup ticked over in a grand ceremony and clock unveiling at B.C. Place this past Wednesday, the same stadium Canada will play its first game of the Gold Cup tournament against Honduras on Tuesday. Article content Article content The stakes are different this time. In 2021, it was excitement and a team oozing with confidence, having overcome incredible odds to emerge as the region's best team. Article content The confidence is still there, but those plucky, fabulous underdogs have grown up. Article content 'A lot of the guys have experience from the last World Cup and we just need to keep that same rhythm we had throughout that year and bring it in to the World Cup. … We want to do something special there,' said forward Cyle Larin. 'I think the more you do well, the more that people expect. When you start playing better, doing well, scoring goals, winning games … it's (raised) expectations. And the more we go up in the rankings in the world … people expect more. That's the level we want.' Article content Article content In qualifying for the last World Cup, Canada had to basically start from scratch when the process was changed because of COVID. The top four-ranked CONCACAF teams got a bye into the final round — the eight-team Octagonal — while Canada had to scratch and claw its way through two preliminary rounds. The team responded by setting a slew of records, including an unprecedented 17-game unbeaten streak, as they stormed through the field, eventually finishing as Kings of CONCACAF. Article content Article content As a host nation for 2026, there will be no qualifying drama. Their spot is assured. Their focus is solely on winning, momentum and peaking in the summer of 2026. Article content 'I think everybody knows how important this summer is and what it means for next summer,' head coach Jesse Marsch said. 'I've explained my feelings about this tournament to the team over the last months, but I didn't really have to. They all said to me, 'We're coming. We want to win it.' And so that's a big statement, but that's how they feel. And I'm glad that I coach a team that feels that way.'
Vancouver Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Canada men's soccer: Phoneys will be sniffed out, and kicked out
For Canadian soccer fans, the Iceteca was more than just the seminal moment in Canada's incipient and unexpected run to the World Cup. It was magical. Cyle Larin's brace. Sam Adekugbe's effervescent leap into the pile of sideline snow. The -9°C temperatures. The first win in 45 years over Mexico in a World Cup qualifier. The emergence as The Team to beat in North America. The 2-1 triumph, the first over Mexico in 20 years , boosted Les Rouges atop the qualifying table. It was 376 days before Canada would ultimately kick off against Belgium at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, their first trip to the tournament since 1986. The one-year countdown to the 2026 World Cup ticked over in a grand ceremony and clock unveiling at B.C. Place this past Wednesday, the same stadium Canada will play its first game of the Gold Cup tournament against Honduras on Tuesday. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. The stakes are different this time. In 2021, it was excitement and a team oozing with confidence, having overcome incredible odds to emerge as the region's best team. The confidence is still there, but those plucky, fabulous underdogs have grown up. 'A lot of the guys have experience from the last World Cup and we just need to keep that same rhythm we had throughout that year and bring it in to the World Cup. … We want to do something special there,' said forward Cyle Larin. 'I think the more you do well, the more that people expect. When you start playing better, doing well, scoring goals, winning games … it's (raised) expectations. And the more we go up in the rankings in the world … people expect more. That's the level we want.' In qualifying for the last World Cup, Canada had to basically start from scratch when the process was changed because of COVID. The top four-ranked CONCACAF teams got a bye into the final round — the eight-team Octagonal — while Canada had to scratch and claw its way through two preliminary rounds. The team responded by setting a slew of records, including an unprecedented 17-game unbeaten streak, as they stormed through the field, eventually finishing as Kings of CONCACAF. As a host nation for 2026, there will be no qualifying drama. Their spot is assured. Their focus is solely on winning, momentum and peaking in the summer of 2026. 'I think everybody knows how important this summer is and what it means for next summer,' head coach Jesse Marsch said. 'I've explained my feelings about this tournament to the team over the last months, but I didn't really have to. They all said to me, 'We're coming. We want to win it.' And so that's a big statement, but that's how they feel. And I'm glad that I coach a team that feels that way.' They understand the assignment. It's a group project. There can be no slackers, no dead weight. Jonathan David could have easily skipped the Canadian Shield — their two friendlies against Ukraine and Cote d'Ivoire last week — as he heads into the biggest transfer summer of his career, expecting to land with an as-yet-decided European giant. 'I want a club with ambition that wants to do something,' David told the Athletic's Joshua Kloke, as teams like Juventus, Manchester United, and Inter Milan circle around him. But he joined Canada. The same with Derek Cornelius, fresh off an extra-long season with Marseille that saw them qualify for the UEFA Champions League. Tajon Buchanon's rocky time on loan with Villarreal meant he reverted to Inter Milan, who are playing in the Club World Cup — but he's in Vancouver, too. Marsch also made a call to the freshly married Alastair Johnson, who will come straight from his honeymoon to Vancouver. 'I don't like the term 'buy in,' because it assumes I'm selling something. The team believes in what's being created … they're totally engaged by the whole experience,' said Marsch. 'They all love being with this team. They love the national team. There was the talk of the brotherhood before I came, and I think that was definitely created. The foundation had been created with this group, but it's a unique, selfless group. I haven't been around many teams that have this kind of love and commitment to each other.' That group of battle-hardened World Cup vets is four years older, but only four of the players on the Gold Cup roster — Larin, Richie Laryea, Jonathan Osario and Maxime Crepeau — are aged 30 or older. But there are young players coming through. Burnaby's Niko Sigur, 21, has four caps, and plays in Europe. Promise David, 23, scored in his debut against Ukraine, after switching countries from Nigeria to Canada. Bournemouth striker Daniel Jebbison eschewed playing for England, switching to Canada and getting capped against Mexico. 'I think this is the best we've ever been,' Sigur said. 'A lot of good players, a lot of good, good young players as well. We have a good mix of some older guys, but we have a lot of good young guys with good experience in Europe.' Integrating new players hasn't been hard for Marsch and Co., because it's made clear what the expectations are. This is a brotherhood. There are responsibilities. 'There are key players and people in the team that are really at the core of everything we do. But I think even when I talk to the dual nationals about coming, or when I've recruited new players, I'm like, 'Look, man, this is not a team that you can just come to because it's good for your career, and you're looking to maybe get more playing minutes and continue to establish yourself,'' said Marsch. 'The only way you can come into this team is if you are all in and you are fully committed to this group, because they'll sniff out a phoney in a second. 'I realized right from the start that with this team, there wasn't a lot of incremental gains to be found,' he added. 'But I felt like the standard at which they think about the game, their commitment to it, and their commitment to excellence and maximizing potential from themselves — within a system that we're creating that's more about like being aggressive — that this was where we could really make the incremental gains. 'And I think that's proved to be the case. Then insert into that the mentality and the commitment, then you're creating a recipe for success.' jadams@ @ Gold Cup, Group Stage Group B: Canada (0-0) vs. Honduras (0-0) Tuesday, 7:30 p.m., B.C. Place . TV: TSN. Canada's next games • Saturday, June 21: Curaçao vs. Canada, 4 p.m., Shell Energy Stadium, Houston • Tuesday, June 24: Canada vs. El Salvador, 7 p.m., Shell Energy Stadium
Toronto Star
07-06-2025
- Health
- Toronto Star
3 Canadian national team players among the Whitecaps stricken by illness
Three Canadian national team players were among those who fell ill following the Vancouver Whitecaps' appearance in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final last weekend in Mexico City. The Whitecaps said a 'significant number' of players and staff had a gastrointestinal illness. Three of them — Ali Ahmed, Sam Adekugbe and Jayden Nelson — were ill when they arrived at Canada's training camp in Halifax ahead of Saturday's Canadian Shield match against Ukraine, coach Jesse Marsch said Friday.
Daily Mail
06-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Canada soccer coach Jesse Marsch says his players were poisoned in Mexico in furious outburst
Canada men's national team manager Jesse Marsch believes that three players he called up from the Vancouver Whitecaps were poisoned in their trip to Mexico last weekend. The Whitecaps traveled to Mexico City to take part in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final, losing 5-0 to Cruz Azul. On Wednesday, the club cancelled a training session after a 'significant number' of players and staff members began suffering gastrointestinal issues. In a statement (via The Athletic) the club said, 'As a precautionary measure, and in consultation with the club's medical team, as well as the local infectious disease consultant and Vancouver Coastal Health, the club cancelled training on Wednesday and held a modified individual closed session for cleared players today.' Three Whitecaps players - Sam Adekugbe, Ali Ahmed, and Jayden Nelson - were called up the Canadian national team for the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament. Prior to a friendly tournament against Ukraine, Marsch spoke to reporters following an event with the Canada Ukraine Foundation to blast CONCACAF for its inaction and making accusations - admitting he had no proof. 'It's, for me, appalling that this is the second year in a row that CONCACAF and the powers that be have allowed an MLS tea to go down to Mexico for a big final and get poisoned,' Marsch said. 'It's ridiculous. Something has to be done to protect these environments.' Last season, the Columbus Crew played in the final of the same tournament - traveling to Mexico to take on Pachuca. Pachuca won 3-0. Following that game, Columbus manager Wilfried Nancy reported that multiple members of the first team and the coaching staff were suffering from food poisioning. General manager Tim Bezbatchenko suggested the team may be a victim of 'subterfuge'. The Whitecaps attempted to mitigate these circumstances from happening to them by hiring their own chef, however the issues occurred anyway. Marsch continued, telling reporters: 'Look, in the past when you would go down there, I remember being with the U.S. national team and club teams going down to Mexico, it was 'will the fire alarm be pulled in the middle of the night? Will there be dancing and singing?' And those are somewhat spirited, competitive advantages that are created when you go down to Mexico. But poisoning the team is another version.' 'Look I don't have any proof here that this (occurred) but it's not random. It's not random that two years in a row this has happened. 'If I were the Vancouver Whitecaps, if I were the Columbus Crew, if I were MLS, I would be absolutely angry that this has been allowed to happen. 'When all three of (Adekugbe, Ahmed, and Nelson) are sick, it's clear. It wasn't just 'Ah, I don't feel so great'. There was talk of whether it was an infectious virus but in the end, I don't want to speak but I think the results are that it was food poisoning.' Adekugbe, Ahmed, and Nelson all participated in training sessions with the Canadian national team on Friday morning. However, Marsch says their recent ailments have led to him re-considering who starts against Ukraine on Saturday. 'We weren't planning to but when the Vancouver guys got poisoned, that changed the plan. They all feel good today, but they're all different. They're not at 100 percent like they would be,' Marsch said. 'You don't run into two years in a final and a bout of MLS teams getting food poisoning for a final. I get it why (players) can't say anything, they're not sure, and I'm not sure either. But this is too much of a coincidence.' After the fixture against Ukraine, Canada will play Cote d'Ivoire in another friendly on Tuesday evening. From there, they travel to the west coast for the start of the Gold Cup - which has them in Group B. They open the tournament against Honduras in Vancouver before traveling to Houston to face Curacao and El Salvador. Under Marsch, Canada has continued its strong form in CONCACAF competitions. Earlier this year, Marsch's men defeated the United States to finish third in the CONCACAF Nations League.
Associated Press
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
3 Canadian national team players among the Whitecaps stricken by illness
Three Canadian national team players were among those who fell ill following the Vancouver Whitecaps' appearance in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final last weekend in Mexico City. The Whitecaps said a 'significant number' of players and staff had a gastrointestinal illness. Three of them — Ali Ahmed, Sam Adekugbe and Jayden Nelson — were ill when they arrived at Canada's training camp in Halifax ahead of Saturday's Canadian Shield match against Ukraine, coach Jesse Marsch said Friday. 'They're better now,' Marsch said. 'They're probably not ready for 90-minute performances.' The trio practiced with the national team Friday in preparation for the match at Toronto's BMO Field. Canada also plays Ivory Coast on Tuesday as it readies for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Marsch, who said it was his understanding that the players had food poisoning, questioned how it could happen two years in a row. Last year, Columbus Crew players fell ill while playing in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final in Mexico against Pachuca. 'If I were the Vancouver Whitecaps, if I was the Columbus Crew, if I was MLS, I would be angry. I would be absolutely angry that this had been allowed to happen,' he said. The Whitecaps were forced to cancel practice Wednesday and had a modified session for cleared players Thursday after both players and staff reported the gastrointestinal symptoms. It appeared many players had returned Friday. 'The health and well-being of our players and staff remain a top priority. Each player has been provided with an individualized program by the medical and performance staff to support their continued preparation and recovery,' the Whitecaps said in a statement. Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster told reporters that about half of the 75 people who returned to Canada via charter following the game reported symptoms. The Whitecaps lost 5-0 to Liga MX team Cruz Azul in the tournament's championship game Sunday night in Mexico City. The Whitecaps were scheduled to play the Seattle Sounders in a Cascadia Cup rivalry match at BC Place on Sunday. Nine players were already going to be missing because of national team duty, including Ahmed, Adekugbe and Nelson. Schuster said the Whitecaps have been in contact with the league about whether the team would have enough players for the game. 'If we have enough healthy and fit players available, we want to play it, of course,' Schuster said. 'No one ever wants not to play a game if he thinks he has a group together that is ready to compete in this game.' ___ AP soccer:
