Led by Alphonso Davies, Canada is preparing for Argentina in the Copa América with an eye on the 2026 World Cup Achi-News

Canada steps onto the world soccer stage again on Thursday with new leadership and a new plan.

But while top-ranked Argentina and Lionel Messi loom large in Thursday’s Copa America opener in Atlanta, Canada’s new coach Jesse Marsch has his sights set on 2026.

Marsch, who took over the 49th-ranked Canadian men on May 13, has made it no secret that Copa America challenges such as World Cup champion Argentina, No. 32 Chile and No. 42 Peru, while special in their own right, are steps along the way to the 2026 World Cup, which Canada is co-hosting.

In behind-the-scenes snippets of his interactions with the Canadian team, shown in Canada Soccer videos, Marsch repeatedly refers to 2026.

That is reflected in his squad selection.

With veteran winger Junior Hoilett a late withdrawal through injury, Marsch’s squad of 26 has just two players aged 30 or over – goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau (30) and midfielder Jonathan Osorio ( 32). Fifteen players are 25 or younger continuing a youth trend started by former interim coach Mauro Biello, who is now a member of Marsch’s coaching staff.

Twelve players have yet to reach double digits in Canadian caps.

Although it is early days under March, the 50-year-old American has been clear about how he wants Canada to play.

Marsch, whose coaching resume includes Leeds United, RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg, New York Red Bulls and the Montreal Impact (now CF Montreal), wants his team to be aggressive, to go after opponents.

And whatever happens, to “go down swinging.”

“As good as the team has been, I still think there’s a lot of room for growth,” Marsch said. “One of the things I evaluated is that there was a team that was very committed to possession football. And I want to try and take him to a team that is a bit more dynamic, that is better in transition, that uses a lot of the weapons that we have and the team speed that we have to push the way we can play’ r game really. at the highest level and against the best opponents.”

For Osorio, Marsch’s aggressive, intense style of play – forged in the Red Bulls’ global system – revolves around the premise that “you can be as dangerous or more dangerous without the ball than you are with the ball .”

“From the beginning, he was cultivating his ideas and how he sees us playing and how he wants us to play… I think guys caught on pretty quickly,” Osorio said.

“I think it’s been good for this new group. It’s kind of a new era and boys are responding very well,” he added.

“A very experienced guy,” added Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan. “He has coached big clubs in big leagues. He is here to push us and take Canada Soccer to the next level.”

Marsch has made Bayern Munich full-back Alphonso Davies captain with FC Porto midfielder Stephen Eustaquio vice-captain. In doing so, he has entrusted the keys to the team to its biggest star and most influential player.

The Canadians, who had to beat No. 98 Trinidad and Tobago in a second chance match to make the tournament field, are one of six CONCACAF guest teams in the 16-nation South American championship. The others are 11th ranked USA, No. 14 Mexico, No. 45 Panama, No. 52 Costa Rica, and No. 55 Jamaica.

Canada has played Argentina once before at the senior level, losing 5-0 in 2010 in front of 66,000 fans in Buenos Aires, before the Argentines left for the World Cup in South Africa.

For players like Osorio, the experience of the World Cup in Qatar in 2022 is an advantage to the Copa America.

“Playing elite level teams and just all the logistics and feeling of what it’s like to be in a big tournament, we have that,” he said. “I think that’s going to help us, to be honest … More than anything, I think we’re ready going into this tournament.”

The Canadians are buoyed by holding No. 2 France to a scoreless draw in their final heat, after losing 4-0 to the seventh-ranked Netherlands.

“I thought it was a great performance,” Osorio said of the France game.

“They had their chances but we did too,” added the Toronto CPD captain. “That game could have gone either way, to be honest. We held our ground very well. We showed our level.”

And while Canada’s squad is infused with youth, Osorio says the players share a common goal regardless of age or experience.

“We are all living the same dream. That really connects us,” he said.

This is Canada’s first ever trip to the Copa America. The Canadian men were supposed to take part in the 2001 edition as a reward for winning the 2000 Gold Cup but never made it there due to security concerns which prompted the organizers to postpone and then reinstate the event.

& copy 2024 The Canadian Press