🏆 🇦🇷- 🇨🇦 It begins: Can Canada hang with the reigning champions?
Jesse Marsch's trial by fire continues as the Copa América begins.
It will get easier. At least, that’s the idea.
Canada’s preparation for the 2022 World Cup fell short when it came to finding and playing top friendly opponents.
By contrast, the Jesse Marsch era began with a trip to the Netherlands and another to France. Any frustration from the 4-0 loss to the Netherlands morphed to hope when Canada drew their hosts in Bordeaux.
Now, his first official match is against the reigning World Cup champion and the defending champion of the Copa América. Oh, and it’s in a stadium that is sold out and will be filled largely with fans rooting against Canada.
“There might be 5,000 Canadians and 65,000 Argentinians in the place. We know what to expect in terms of atmosphere and adversity we might face.” goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau said.
You’ve likely seen the videos of just how many fans are outside Argentina’s hotel, greeting them at the stadium, hoping to make their support felt even before the contest. Canada is on the ground, already feeling like they’re playing an away match despite being at a neutral site.
“Everyone’s really aware that this is a big moment and that the country is excited for the team and for the match. If you walk around Atlanta right now you see a lot of Messi jerseys, a lot of Argentinians fans,” Marsch said. “I think that’s going to be our biggest X-factor: The stadium will be full with Argentina fans and we have to stay steady, stay stable and confident.”
How quickly can Canada “grow up” as Marsch said it needed to in his pre-match news conference? Can you speed run a maturation process?
The question isn’t really about whether or not today’s match will be hard. It isn’t whether or not Canada goes into the game as an underdog. The question is what Canada can do tonight to hang with or even challenge Argentina.
Trying to come out and play the style they’ll eventually put on the field under Marsch has benefits and risks. Surprise Argentina with successful early incursions, and it could set a tone for the match few in the crowd will be expecting. It could also go totally wrong, allowing Argentina to take an early lead they never relinquish.
Either way, it will get easier with group matches against Peru and Chile. At least, that’s the idea.
“We could say beforehand - in theory - that three of us are on that second step,” Peru manager Jorge Fossati said Thursday. “The reigning world champion is in our group, so they’re on a step up from the other three, but at least I don’t see any opponent that’s more important than any other.”
Marsch has already seen how his team measures up against two top-seven teams in friendly matches. He’ll see how it compares to that world champion in an official game.
After come the lessons that will help things get easier. Not playing teams in the top 10 in the world should help, too.
Today’s games
8p ET - Argentina vs. Canada - FS1/Univision
Tomorrow
8p ET Chile vs. Peru - FS1/TUDN