The Canadian Men's Soccer Team Thread

[M*A*S*H 4077]

What the hell is this Forge FC commercial doing on here? Garbage

[M*A*S*H 4077]

This game is screaming for a 6’ 5” target man

[MillerTime GFG]

I don’t know why Canada has chosen to play 100mph since the first minute goal.

Aaaand that’s game.

[Trojan97]

Need a save there

[dieHARDflameZ]

Sinclair needs to make that save. That was a long ways out.

[MillerTime GFG]

Really poor from Canada tonight unfortunately. Ah well. Onto the next tourney!

[MonaTone]

Might be the worst I've seen this team play recently. Still much growing to do.

[MillerTime GFG]

I think that free kick woulda been a tough one to save. Walk was protecting near post. Keeper standing at far post, had to come all the way across, and the walk would block his vision so he likely picked it up late.

[The Big Chill]

Tough loss. Not many scoring chances for either side and Mexico got the lucky break in the first minute and another break with the non penalty call. The early goal allowed them to sit back and break up play all game.

We were unable to create any space for the attacking players.

[Trojan97]

They did an absolutely terrible job tonight of getting David involved. Extremely disappointing. Larin invisible also. Much respect for all he's done for the program but I'd rather see one of the kids in his starting spot at this point as it feels like he rarely stands out vs higher calibre opponents.

[ditty]

I didn't think Canada were overall poor tonight. Giving up such an early goal makes things especially difficult against a team like Mexico who defend really well from the front to the back. They used the ball well when then had it playing on the counter but were content to stay compact and force Canada to try to play around them.

I do think the game highlighted that we're going to struggle against higher level, organized teams, especially if we need to chase a goal. This team's one world class attribute is speed and athleticism and those were fairly neutralized tonight. We certainly weren't outclassed tonight but we struggled to create much.

On a final note, I thought this was Davies' poorest game since Marsch took over. I liked that way he got forward but I thought he fought the ball a little tonight and he did get caught out defending in a big way in the first half.

Anyway, I think Sunday will not be a typical 3rd place match. Both teams really have something to prove. I think Sunday will still be our most important competitive match before 2026.

[browna]

Canada was fine. Unorganized at the back a bit, and then the push for the next 20 mins had the Mexicans on the back foot. Missed penalty sure but were able to move the ball up the field quick which Mexicans were not prepared for.

Halftime the Mexicans made some adjustments and along with the Canadians themself slowing down, and the Mexicans were able to slow things down sufficiently into a pure skill game and then a time wasting effort.

Had some chances to score for sure. Not grade A but enough to pull one of them back.

Free kick was good but could've been saved, given the height of the kick. St Clair shuffled a couple too many times and was late across.

Will be in tough for the bronze. US will be pissed and Poch will have them going.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Originally Posted by MillerTime GFG

I don’t know why Canada has chosen to play 100mph since the first minute goal.

This is my biggest thought on the game. In the build up Marsch and all the players were talking about their speed and it seemed their only thought during the game was fast, fast, fast, FAST, FASTER! Mexico seemed ready to deal with runs in behind and the early goal let Mexico sit a little deeper so there was limited space. The early goal came about because Johnston took a throw deep in their end as fast as possible, didn't look like the guys were set and ready to receive the ball at all. Especially once Mexico did start to sit deeper I think they would've been better off trying to get Eustaquio, Kone, Oso, and David on the ball with more possession play.

Johnston and David were my two biggest disappointments. Johnston was full gas the whole time and David never made any real imprint on the game at all. I've seen a lot of Larin/Ahmed criticism online which I am not totally buying. Larin (especially in the second half up until the ~70') was playing the role of the big man forward and competing for balls and making the Mexican keeper's life miserable. Ahmed settled into the game nicely I thought and yes, his end product is missing at times, but he won some corners and was actually the only guy to turn and beat his defender for pace multiple times.

Ah well. A big missed opportunity to win something. I'm torn now if I want to see the first XI against the States or to try a different look with some other guys out there

[shermanator]

Last night was a typical result for anyone who's watched this country prior to the last World Cup cycle. Talk a big game, have incredible form for club, and then fold on the pitch when it matters.

Johnston and Davies were not up to their standards. Johnston couldn't win a tackle to save his life and Davies was dribbling into defenders all night. I think Davies feels the pressure of being the star and tends to play hero ball instead of playing to his strengths.

If Canada have a full strength squad Ahmed and Osorio aren't starting. I don't think either had a bad game necessarily but they just aren't at the quality needed against big competition. Ahmed is having a great year at Whitecaps but his delivery on corners was poor and his final decision making was lacking, which to be fair is what he's done at Whitecaps all year too. Didn't really notice Osorio but reading a lot of criticism of him. If Buchanan is getting regular minutes and Shaffelburg is healthy they are starting.

Larin and David were invisible as well. For all the Promise David hype, I am struggling to understand how he didn't get on the pitch. I'm sure he'll be leading the line at Gold Cup.

Just a bitterly disappointing result yet again, and the worst game they have played under Marsch by far. At least they can redeem things a bit with a win over the US Sunday.

[CroFlames]

This is an important tournament, so it's disappointing to say the least. Gold Cup is basically relegated to warm up invitational now with a bunch of players set to miss it.

I missed the first minute and therefore the goal, so it was always going to be hard. Not sure how the hell VAR didn't catch the penalty, so that just made it that much harder.

Some disappointing performances from some guys; but credit to MEX as they worked hard. Gimenez/Jimenez obviously quality players.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

We really missed Richie Laryea last night. He would've thrived in a game like that. I don't think he should normally be a starter but he is still a big part of the group

And the narrow pitch was likely a factor none of us really considered. It was congested and tight and that really helps a team sit back and defend. Hard to attack when there's no space. Makes me a little worried for the world cup in 2026 in all these NFL stadiums. Could be a lot of narrow pitches

[McG]

Originally Posted by browna

Johnston still think he's playing against scrubs and plumbers from Rangers in the SPL and isn't as quick as he should be. Just tried to hammer the free kick at the guy two yards away.

Huh. Celtic 2-3 Rangers. And Johnston was absolutely terrible in that match. Lots of international players in the SPL. Fenerbache scrubs too?

I thought the guardian article was decent, but he comes across as insufferable in just about every other interview.

On topic, I don’t know why referees get so intimidated by Mexico. 50/50 balls, no issue. But the running commentary from non captains to the referee would not be tolerated elsewhere. I find Mexico as a team to be incredibly disrespectful and I hope Panama beats them. The players get away with stuff that was appalling.

Johnston had possession at the throw in…and the throw was terrible. Schoolboy stuff. It cost Canada the goal, but it shouldn’t have cost the match. Canada must find a way to score in these sorts of matches.

Having said that, there were periods where Canada had lots of the football, and probably should have had a goal or two. By the laws of the game, that was a penalty. I don’t understand why it wasn’t given by VAR.

Game v USA will be good!

[Johnny199r]

Our M.O has been to use speed, run at the opposition and then pressure to win the ball back when we lose it.

We didn't do any of those things vs Mexico.

Starting Osorio instead of a true left winger meant we had no width. We were tilted to the right. As a result, Davies tried to play hero ball up the left. The last time he tried that was the World Cup, where it also didn't go well. Unfortunately, our only winger who was on the pitch, Ahmed, had a terrible game on the right side. This made it even easier for Mexico to stay compact on an already narrow pitch.

If you already have Osorio, Kone and Staq in the middle, why have David drop deep?

I think Marsch got his tactics wrong. However, Millar and Laryea are injured, Shaff just came back from injury and hasn't started a match for his club team yet. Tajon must not be showing it in training for Marsch to keep him on the bench. His last few months have been pretty bad for his club play. Our depth maybe isn't what we thought it was.

I think this also shows some of our players have also had a dip in form this season which carried over to the match. Kone has struggled in Ligue 1. Staq and the rest of his Porto teammates are having a bad year.

Disappointing not to see Promise David get a chance in the 2nd half.

[SebC]

Nobody cares that we beat the USA for bronze?

[Cecil Terwilliger]

I care.