Canada's Gold Cup implosion leaves Jesse Marsch with more questions than time
In a bitter Canadian irony, the only man inside the US Bank Stadium who could have spelled and pronounced schadenfreude on demand was the one on the end of it.
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Jesse Marsch and Canada limped away from the cavernous Minneapolis arena with enough regrets and concerns to have filled the place, not hanging around to see Mauricio Pochettino's side handle the pressure of a penalty shootout when they'd crumbled. The in-person and very online American support revelled in all of it.
Exiting the Gold Cup at the hands of the 106th-ranked team in the world had instant impacts, stealing Canada's chance to end a quarter-century trophy drought but more importantly robbing Marsch and his players of the last remaining meaningful matches a year out from the World Cup.
'I'm disappointed,' said captain Jonathan David, who'd ran himself ragged against the gleeful Guatemalans. 'It's a game we had in our hands and it fell apart.'
More than that, this was a crucial month that fell apart, leaving plenty of questions …
Failing to deliver on promise and pressure
This June window was going to last eight games. Marsch and his players had assured the Canadian public of as much. A run to the Gold Cup final on Sunday was the bare minimum. They didn't reach it. Having failed to fulfill similar promises in March's Nations League finals, Canada's trophy-less run since 2000 will now stretch to the World Cup.
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There was a little mitigation, Marsch missing three sure starters in Alphonso Davies, Moise Bombito and Steph Eustaquio. Yet the manager had been effusive about having as strong a panel as possible as he set the highest targets. The quarter-final turned on a red card but Canada had enough talent to have managed that moment – and many more.
'We lost because we beat ourselves, and we can't do that in important matches,' said Marsch. 'We certainly can't do that next summer.'
The month ended with just six games, not eight. Canada turned up in just two of them, a friendly trouncing of Ukraine and the Gold Cup opener against Honduras. Otherwise things were underwhelming and insipid. The team went its separate ways with more issues than when they'd got together in late May.
Lost in the red and white mist
Amid heightened off-field tensions, Marsch has proven an able Canadian diplomat. More parochially, his pettiness around all things US Soccer has been delightfully packaged for the audience north of the border. This, ultimately, is mere window dressing.
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Now in a rapid reversal of the stuff that matters most, the US are rising out of a funk while Canada find themselves at their lowest ebb under the American. And temperament is a huge part of the problem.
Jacob Shaffelburg's rash red card before half-time in Minneapolis turned the tide Guatemala's way. It was a first Canadian dismissal in almost 40 matches but it was absolutely coming. Marsch has demanded that his team play with an edge, harking to hockey terminology. But they've also lived on the edge. In March the manager went over it with a touchline meltdown that earned a two-game ban. Yet he continued to lash Concacaf at regular intervals.
Canadian cattiness is wearing thin when the players are letting emotions sway results. Against El Salvador and Guatemala, opposition aggression and cynicism dragged down a team clearly superior on paper.
Maturity comes in other forms. That it was 19-year-old center-back Luc de Fougerolles stepping up for a decisive sudden-death spot kick Sunday when veteran full backs Alistair Johnston and Richie Laryea stayed back felt off too.
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This time next year, enormous pressure will descend on the co-host nation. Somewhere in the next 12 months, they must find control and a way to tread more nimbly along their edges.
Selections and subs need serious work
Handling emotions on a foreign Concacaf field can be a vexing thing. We know that. Marsch and his management team are on the other side of the white lines and paid handsomely to find calm amid chaos.
Yet team selection and substitutions have wavered from muddled to messy this month. Sunday felt like the culmination of that. Down to 10 men but a goal to the good against a team sandwiched between Comoros and Tanzania in the world rankings, Marsch bizarrely opted to introduce attacker Daniel Jebbison on the left wing. Untested and utterly unconvincing thus far in his international career, Jebbison foundered. Bringing a third midfielder in to help lock down the middle felt the far smarter move, but Marsch instead prioritized his press.
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Just 12 months removed from a Copa América campaign where he'd emerged as the team's driving dynamic heart, it was striking that Ismaël Koné sat ignored on the bench.
Earlier in the tournament the manager vociferously snapped back at an English journalist who'd inquired as to whether Canada had a 'plan B' other than being a pressure team. 'We have plan A, plan B, plan C, plan D, all the way up to plan double-Z,' he replied. Sunday's circumstances surely called for one of those alternatives.
There must also be concern about favoritism for clearly out-of-form options. Marsch values Cyle Larin's leadership but the veteran was invisible against Ivory Coast and brought nothing as a Gold Cup substitute before also missing a key penalty. Like Jebbison and plenty of others of late, he felt like the wrong move at the wrong time Sunday.
Dayne St Clair's inability to turn MLS penalty prowess into anything decisive for country has only added to perhaps the biggest issue in Marsch's line-up. Now 21 games into his tenure, he has no idea who his starting goalkeeper is.
Saliba, Sigur and moments of Promise
As is his prerogative but also preset factory mode, Marsch immediately tried to push away from negatives in the moments after an ignominious exit. 'I'm still very positive on this group,' he said. 'We made a lot of progress with a lot of players.'
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Amid what was ultimately collective failure, this month did witness some individual emergence. Nathan Saliba swapped CF Montreal for Anderlecht mid-Gold Cup, the transfer a tangible confirmation of the international strides the midfielder has been making. Another who shined, Niko Sigur, may not be waiting long for his step up from Hajduk Split, Atalanta a possible destination. Utility man Sigur shone at right back and then showed flashes of what he offers in midfield.
Promise David rounded off a breakout club campaign with an international debut and two goals in his first two caps. The Union Saint-Gilloise target man clearly offers plenty, some of it unpredictable. Marsch, alas, values predictability, but having compared David's breakneck growth to that of Erling Haaland, may need to trust him more.
Penalty woes aside, teenager De Fougerolles looked assured and classy in defence, an ongoing area of need. So, yes, as the dust and Guatemalan fiesta settles there are reasons for some Canadian cheer. Marsch will reconvene with his players in Europe in early September for friendlies against Romania and Wales. A pair of October dates, likely both with South American opposition, follow.
Having spurned such a priceless opportunity for two more high-stakes games this week, it's now friendlies all the way to next June. Marsch has insisted he'll make them meaningful. With much to be done, he needs to make them count.
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CNN
22 minutes ago
- CNN
Having seen ‘very toxic heterosexual climates' in NFL locker rooms, this player is leading change with LGBTQ-targeted youth football camp
For a professional athlete, sitting on the sidelines – unable to have an impact – can often be the most frustrating place to be. And that's why Khalen Saunders is all about taking action, on the field and in his personal life. The New Orleans Saints defensive tackle isn't content with just being an ally to the LGBTQ+ community; his mantra is 'actions speak louder than words.' One of the ways that Saunders is taking action is by running a youth football camp specifically for children in the LGBTQ+ community, the first of its kind. The camp will be held in his hometown of St. Louis on July 5 and Saunders will be joined by his older brother, Kameron, who he credits with opening his mind to inclusivity. Kameron, a dancer and choreographer who has featured on Taylor Swift's 'Eras Tour,' is a member of the LGBTQ+ community and Saunders says he is a big reason for wanting to 'create a safe space within sports to have everybody feel welcome to be who they are.' 'I think (Kameron) has been to almost every single game that I've had, from when I was eight to 'til now, so he's always been there,' Saunders told CNN Sports. 'So my intention with this camp is to unify everybody and just promote positivity and empathy amongst others as far as just being accepting of everybody and showing everybody love. 'But also, with my brother, being able to come to all my events and feel comfortable being himself, I would want anybody who has a brother or family member in general that comes to their sporting events to feel safe and welcomed when they when they attend that.' Saunders was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs out of Western Illinois in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. During his time with the Chiefs, Saunders won two Super Bowl rings before signing with the Saints in 2023. The youngest of four brothers, Saunders explains that he learned a lot from his elder siblings and, in particular, an empathy he tries to take into all walks of life. 'I learned very quickly from Kameron to be accepting of people and let people be comfortable with you and that's how you'll get the genuine best out of people,' Saunders said. Creating a place for youths to discover their love for football – a game which has given so much to him, Saunders says – and to spend time with likeminded individuals is one of the main reasons for organizing the camp. The camp – the third one he's run with his foundation, 'Original Element Foundation' – is the first one he's directly advertised to the LGBTQ+ community to welcome them in. And he uses his experience with his brother, who he calls 'one of the most prevalent male beings in my life,' and whether he would feel comfortable as an example of the kind of environment he wants to create. Besides making a safe space for children of all orientations to come and play the game, Saunders is hoping he can help knock off any stigma around members of the LGBTQ+ community's involvement in sports. A Gallup Poll released earlier this year found that the proportion of American adults who identify as LGBTQ+ rose to 9.3% of the population, an increase of more than one percentage point from 2023's estimate. According to a report from The Trevor Project – a suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ+ youth – a number of LGBTQ youth reported 'choosing not to participate in sports due to reasons related to discrimination or fear of LGBTQ-based discrimination.' In the same report, The Trevor Project found that nearly one in three members of the LGBTQ community participate in sports. Saunders describes having experienced 'very toxic heterosexual climates' in football locker rooms during his time in the game, something he puts down to 'ignorance.' He remembers hearing anti-homosexual slurs being used in an NFL environment, something he puts down to individuals not knowing 'how offensive some things can be to other people.' Saunders takes it upon himself to attempt to change those 'toxic cultures' and credits a lot of his teammates with becoming much more accepting. Even the defensive tackle admits it's difficult to know exactly how to make everyone feel welcome all the time, but says that if you're trying to be more open-minded, then that's all you need to do. No matter who you are, for Saunders, 'ability is ability' and that's something he hopes his camp can foster. 'If you run a 4.5 second or less 40-yard dash, you're fast. If you jump a 35-inch vertical or higher, you jump high. If you can bench press 225 more than 20 times, you're very strong,' he said. 'I think that the space within sports for LGBTQ+ members, it's very limited and I understand that which is why I'm trying to hold this camp and try and promote positivity around that. 'If you got it, you got it. And I've seen great athletes be shied away for several reasons. I would just not want gender identification or sexual orientation to be one of those reasons.' Saunders has received an array of feedback following the announcement of the camp, ranging from the extremely positive to the other end of the spectrum. He's received messages from kids expressing their gratitude for making a place they can feel comfortable playing football as well as adults reaching out to him saying: 'I wish that something like this had been done when I was coming up in sports.' And while that positive feedback makes him feel 'really happy,' the negative comments have also stuck with Saunders. He has received comments such as 'youth and LGBTQ+ shouldn't be in the same sentence.' Saunders says those come from a lack of understanding of the reasoning behind the camp. 'This is not an attempt to sway any child to be of any sexual orientation or gender identification or anything like that,' he said. 'This is just teaching children to be accepting of those who are.' Saunders also recognizes that much of people's ignorance comes from 'learned traits and learned behaviors,' something he doesn't fault them for. But he says, as an ally, he does what he can to open people's eyes to the possibilities. The 28-year-old said he'd like to talk to those who have given him negative feedback face-to-face and explain why he believes having an open mind can lead to a 'better society,' especially when it comes to teaching kids from a young age to have an accepting way of thinking. 'Let's break that (cycle) and educate our children. That way they know the differences, they know the feelings, they know everything,' he said. 'And then we can progress towards a better society, instead of creating division and hate amongst things that could easily be out ruled by simple education.' And he is hoping that through the camp and through the impact Kameron has had on him, he can help reinforce that acceptance is vital for a more progressive society. 'This is an opportunity to kind of just showcase the thinking pattern that I have, just as far as being empathetic and treating people how you want to be treated and all those quote unquote 'golden rules' that we learn as children, we kind of stray away from when we get to adulthood,' Saunders said. 'And it's just a great way to remind this generation to stick to those golden rules and a way to make sure that everyone knows that they have a place in this world and everyone knows that they have a place specifically within sports because that's what this camp is all about. It's just showing acceptance and really just doing all of this for the love of the sport itself, not for anything else besides.'
CNN
23 minutes ago
- CNN
Having seen ‘very toxic heterosexual climates' in NFL locker rooms, this player is leading change with LGBTQ-targeted youth football camp
For a professional athlete, sitting on the sidelines – unable to have an impact – can often be the most frustrating place to be. And that's why Khalen Saunders is all about taking action, on the field and in his personal life. The New Orleans Saints defensive tackle isn't content with just being an ally to the LGBTQ+ community; his mantra is 'actions speak louder than words.' One of the ways that Saunders is taking action is by running a youth football camp specifically for children in the LGBTQ+ community, the first of its kind. The camp will be held in his hometown of St. Louis on July 5 and Saunders will be joined by his older brother, Kameron, who he credits with opening his mind to inclusivity. Kameron, a dancer and choreographer who has featured on Taylor Swift's 'Eras Tour,' is a member of the LGBTQ+ community and Saunders says he is a big reason for wanting to 'create a safe space within sports to have everybody feel welcome to be who they are.' 'I think (Kameron) has been to almost every single game that I've had, from when I was eight to 'til now, so he's always been there,' Saunders told CNN Sports. 'So my intention with this camp is to unify everybody and just promote positivity and empathy amongst others as far as just being accepting of everybody and showing everybody love. 'But also, with my brother, being able to come to all my events and feel comfortable being himself, I would want anybody who has a brother or family member in general that comes to their sporting events to feel safe and welcomed when they when they attend that.' Saunders was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs out of Western Illinois in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. During his time with the Chiefs, Saunders won two Super Bowl rings before signing with the Saints in 2023. The youngest of four brothers, Saunders explains that he learned a lot from his elder siblings and, in particular, an empathy he tries to take into all walks of life. 'I learned very quickly from Kameron to be accepting of people and let people be comfortable with you and that's how you'll get the genuine best out of people,' Saunders said. Creating a place for youths to discover their love for football – a game which has given so much to him, Saunders says – and to spend time with likeminded individuals is one of the main reasons for organizing the camp. The camp – the third one he's run with his foundation, 'Original Element Foundation' – is the first one he's directly advertised to the LGBTQ+ community to welcome them in. And he uses his experience with his brother, who he calls 'one of the most prevalent male beings in my life,' and whether he would feel comfortable as an example of the kind of environment he wants to create. Besides making a safe space for children of all orientations to come and play the game, Saunders is hoping he can help knock off any stigma around members of the LGBTQ+ community's involvement in sports. A Gallup Poll released earlier this year found that the proportion of American adults who identify as LGBTQ+ rose to 9.3% of the population, an increase of more than one percentage point from 2023's estimate. According to a report from The Trevor Project – a suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ+ youth – a number of LGBTQ youth reported 'choosing not to participate in sports due to reasons related to discrimination or fear of LGBTQ-based discrimination.' In the same report, The Trevor Project found that nearly one in three members of the LGBTQ community participate in sports. Saunders describes having experienced 'very toxic heterosexual climates' in football locker rooms during his time in the game, something he puts down to 'ignorance.' He remembers hearing anti-homosexual slurs being used in an NFL environment, something he puts down to individuals not knowing 'how offensive some things can be to other people.' Saunders takes it upon himself to attempt to change those 'toxic cultures' and credits a lot of his teammates with becoming much more accepting. Even the defensive tackle admits it's difficult to know exactly how to make everyone feel welcome all the time, but says that if you're trying to be more open-minded, then that's all you need to do. No matter who you are, for Saunders, 'ability is ability' and that's something he hopes his camp can foster. 'If you run a 4.5 second or less 40-yard dash, you're fast. If you jump a 35-inch vertical or higher, you jump high. If you can bench press 225 more than 20 times, you're very strong,' he said. 'I think that the space within sports for LGBTQ+ members, it's very limited and I understand that which is why I'm trying to hold this camp and try and promote positivity around that. 'If you got it, you got it. And I've seen great athletes be shied away for several reasons. I would just not want gender identification or sexual orientation to be one of those reasons.' Saunders has received an array of feedback following the announcement of the camp, ranging from the extremely positive to the other end of the spectrum. He's received messages from kids expressing their gratitude for making a place they can feel comfortable playing football as well as adults reaching out to him saying: 'I wish that something like this had been done when I was coming up in sports.' And while that positive feedback makes him feel 'really happy,' the negative comments have also stuck with Saunders. He has received comments such as 'youth and LGBTQ+ shouldn't be in the same sentence.' Saunders says those come from a lack of understanding of the reasoning behind the camp. 'This is not an attempt to sway any child to be of any sexual orientation or gender identification or anything like that,' he said. 'This is just teaching children to be accepting of those who are.' Saunders also recognizes that much of people's ignorance comes from 'learned traits and learned behaviors,' something he doesn't fault them for. But he says, as an ally, he does what he can to open people's eyes to the possibilities. The 28-year-old said he'd like to talk to those who have given him negative feedback face-to-face and explain why he believes having an open mind can lead to a 'better society,' especially when it comes to teaching kids from a young age to have an accepting way of thinking. 'Let's break that (cycle) and educate our children. That way they know the differences, they know the feelings, they know everything,' he said. 'And then we can progress towards a better society, instead of creating division and hate amongst things that could easily be out ruled by simple education.' And he is hoping that through the camp and through the impact Kameron has had on him, he can help reinforce that acceptance is vital for a more progressive society. 'This is an opportunity to kind of just showcase the thinking pattern that I have, just as far as being empathetic and treating people how you want to be treated and all those quote unquote 'golden rules' that we learn as children, we kind of stray away from when we get to adulthood,' Saunders said. 'And it's just a great way to remind this generation to stick to those golden rules and a way to make sure that everyone knows that they have a place in this world and everyone knows that they have a place specifically within sports because that's what this camp is all about. It's just showing acceptance and really just doing all of this for the love of the sport itself, not for anything else besides.'
Washington Post
36 minutes ago
- Washington Post
McNeil's clutch homer lifts Mets over Yankees in Subway Series opener
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Tyler Freeman doubled to tie it at 2. Quero gave Chicago the lead with a 401-foot drive to right field — before getting the silent treatment from his teammates when he returned to the dugout.
