For Canada, the real Gold Cup starts now

Winnipeg Free Press

10 hours ago

Opinion
After getting some rest, dressing their wounds and departing the heat of southeast Texas, the Canadian men's national team will shortly get back to doing what they entered the Gold Cup to do. That is, playing football.
Ah yes, the football.
Twelve days is a long time in summer tournaments — more than half of this present championship — but that's how long it's been since Canada played an actual game against opponents actually interested in playing that game.
In that regard, credit to Honduras. They might have lost 6-0 back on June 17, but at least they turned up to play. It's a pretty low bar, and yet neither Curaçao nor El Salvador scaled it in Canada's next two Group B contests. Even worse, they didn't try to.
The Curaçao match, which took place at baking Shell Energy Stadium, was less a game of football than a battle of attrition — something Canada should typically avoid. They were bullied by the Caribbean side and lucky to draw 1-1.
But there was nothing they could do on Tuesday against El Salvador, who had no interest in passing, dribbling, shooting and tackling — at least tackling fairly. They were out to hurt people, plain and simple, and their thuggery earned them two red cards and a 2-0 defeat. La Selecta left the Gold Cup with zero points, zero goals, three shots on target and 45 fouls. Good riddance.
All told, four points from six in scorching Houston, while not ideal, is still a decent return. Head coach Jesse Marsch will have been pleased to see both Jonathan David and Tajon Buchanan score against El Salvador, and 21-year-old Niko Sigur continues to impress with his versatility, smarts and tactical nous.
Jacob Shaffelburg is also worth a pat on the back for his performances to date. A hypothetical pat, mind, as his entire body must be bruised from the punishment he took on Tuesday. He suffered for the team, for the win, and there is something inspiring in that.
Now, as they enter the knockout rounds, Marsch and his players will be hoping the suffering is over, that they can get back to playing an honest 90 minutes against sincere opposition. Well, they're in luck.
On Sunday, in the rather more agreeable environment of Minneapolis, Canada will face Guatemala at U.S. Bank Stadium (3:00 p.m., TSN & OneSoccer). It will be their toughest match to date, though not of the sort they encountered back in Houston.
Guatemala, while sturdy, are first and foremost a footballing outfit, and a proud one.
Speaking to Prensa Libre earlier this month, manager Luis Fernando Tena remarked that his team's recent performances had gained them considerable respect. In another interview, he said — and not for the first time — that he wanted the country to be proud of his squad, win or lose. Well, job done.
Under Tena, Guatemala have not only got at least as far as the quarterfinals in successive Gold Cups, but they've also earned promotion to the top tier of the CONCACAF Nations League and advanced to the final stage of 2026 World Cup qualifying.
To be clear, he had some work to do in resuscitating Los Chapines' reputation. It wasn't so long ago that the Federación Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala was serving a FIFA suspension for government interference in sporting matters, and in the decade before Tena's appointment they failed to progress beyond a single Gold Cup group stage.
It's in that context that Tena wants to showcase what he sees as a revival of Guatemalan football, and his players have so far obliged.
D.C. United right-back Aaron Herrera has been especially good this month and will look to contain the energetic Shaffelburg on Sunday. Jonathan Franco, a 21-year-old anchor midfielder, has likely played well enough to earn a transfer from local club Municipal, although he's under contract until 2028.
Guatemala's biggest challenge, quite unfortunately, was recently their greatest strength.
Goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen, who plays his club football for Columbus Crew, might have been playing himself into the Gold Cup all-star team before sustaining a midweek muscle injury. His replacement, Kénderson Navarro, will make only his third international appearance when he starts against Canada.
The assignment for David, Buchanan and Canada's other attacking players, then, would seem to be to shoot early and often and ensure Navarro doesn't become the unlikely hero. It'll help that Stephen Eustáquio is back from the Club World Cup as his teammates have struggled to control the centre of the park in his absence.
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Helpful, too, will be the confidence Canada can take from playing a team that doesn't approach the beautiful game like MMA with a ball.
Guatemala will be a challenge, but for all the right reasons.
For Canada, the real Gold Cup begins now.
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