Jesse Marsch Hired as Canada HC Through 2026 World Cup After Rumored USMNT Interest
May 13, 2024
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 05: Jesse Marsch, Manager of Leeds United, looks on prior to the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Leeds United at City Ground on February 05, 2023 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
The Canada Soccer Men's National Team announced Monday that former Red Bull Salzburg, RB Leipzig and Leeds United manager, Jesse Marsch, will take over as the club's head coach effective immediately.
Marsch released the following statement:
It is an absolute honour to represent and lead the Canadian Men's National Team in our preparation for a home World Cup. The combination of the new leadership inside of Canada Soccer coupled with the potential of this dynamic player pool has inspired me, and I am ready and eager to take on this massive responsibility. My excitement and anticipation to get started are immense. One of my main goals will be to help unite the soccer community in Canada to support our efforts to be successful on and off the pitch. All In for 2026!
Marsch—who also spent time in Major League Soccer as the manager of the Montreal Impact and New York Red Bulls—will be under contract with Canada through July 2026, giving him the chance to lead the team through the 2024 Copa America and presumably the 2026 World Cup.
Jesse Marsch will be officially known as the “MLS Canada Men’s National Team Head Coach” due to philanthropic contributions from the three Canadian MLS teams. #CANMNTpic.twitter.com/2xYgN0iwSM
The 50-year-old was reportedly in the running to get the USMNT coaching gig over the summer but ultimately was bypassed—or pulled his own name out of contention at the last minute—before Gregg Berhalter was controversially reappointed to the position.
Marsch said in March during an episode of his Call it What You Want podcast with cohost Jimmy Conrad that he wasn't interested in the USMNT gig.
Jesse Marsch has been named manager of the Canadian men's national team.
The former Leeds United, RB Leipzig, RB Salzburg and New York Red Bulls manager was interviewed by the USMNT last summer and then linked with South Korea this spring, but now officially named Canadian boss pic.twitter.com/pOPXXYVReG
— Tactical Manager (@ManagerTactical) May 13, 2024
He also previously told CBS Sports' Kate Abdo in Nov. 2023 that he believed his future was with a European club (h/t Jacob Schneider of Goal.com):
I'm focused on what I'm doing here in Europe, which is trying this (punditry work), but I really still think that my future lies here in Europe and finding good clubs to coach here. I'm a little bit more of someone who enjoys the daily grind of being part of a team, and I feel like that's the way to really impact a group. So I mean, let's see what happens. You never know you can never say never, but I'm really happy living here in Europe. I'm really happy with with the challenge of getting to know new cultures, languages, teams, leagues... Champions League, right there's nothing for me bigger than Champions League.
It would appear that Canada was able to change his mind in that regard, however.
"After extensive consultation with expert stakeholders and a rigorous search process, I am delighted to make today's announcement," Kevin Blue, the CEO and general secretary of Canada Soccer, said in a statement. "Jesse is a transformational leader who will drive progress for our men's national team—and for Canadian soccer more broadly—as we enter the most important time in the domestic history of our sport."
Marsch's most recent managerial gigs haven't gone well. He lasted less than half a season with RB Leipzig in the 2021-22 campaign, and he made it through just one year—and parts of two seasons—with Leeds United between Feb. 2022 and Feb. 2023.
He hasn't picked up with another club or country since. Canada will be hoping he can regain the mojo that once made him one of the up-and-coming managers in world football.
Christine Sinclair Announces Canada Retirement; Has Record 190 International Goals
Oct 20, 2023
BMO FIELD, TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA - 2023/09/26: Christine Sinclair #12 in action during the CONCACAF Women's Championship 2024 Olympic qualifier between Canada and Jamaica at BMO field in Toronto.
The game ended 2-1 for Canada sending it to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. (Photo by Angel Marchini/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Christine Sinclair's historic run with the Canadian women's national team has come to an end.
Sinclair announced her retirement from international competition on Friday: "Honestly, you can't play forever. And this seems like a good time to be done."
She originally joined Canada's senior team in 2000 at the age of 16. Her 190 career goals in international matches are the most in history by any player. She surpassed the previous record of 184 set by United States legend Abby Wambach.
Canada's Christine Sinclair passes the USWNT's Abby Wambach to become the top international goalscorer of all time, men's or women’s 👏 pic.twitter.com/zcwLP2ehWY
Sinclair is still planning to play in the NWSL with the Portland Thorns through the 2024 season. She has played for the Thorns since 2013.
"After Tokyo, I knew I didn't want to play in Paris," Sinclair said, referencing the 2024 Summer Games. "And then I wanted to give the World Cup another shot [this year] just with our team's lack of success in World Cups in general. So, I knew it was coming to an end just based on what I wanted to do in terms of a timeline."
One of the great highlights of Sinclair's career was leading Canada to the gold medal at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. It came after the Canadians won bronze at the 2012 and 2016 Games.
The 2023 World Cup wasn't as kind to Canada, which failed to advance out of the group stage with a 4-0 loss to Australia. Sinclair admitted to extending her career with the national team to help them qualify for the Olympics and "to go out on a little bit better of a note" than what happened in Australia.
Canada secured its spot at the Paris Games with a 4-1 aggregate win over Jamaica in an Olympic qualifier last month.
Sinclair's official sendoff will come during a pair of games during the FIFA international window from Nov. 27 to Dec. 5. Canada's opponents for those matches have not yet been announced.
World Cup 2022 Scores: Latest Results and Thursday's Schedule
Nov 23, 2022
DOHA, QATAR - NOVEMBER 23: Takuma Asano of Japan celebrates following the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group E match between Germany and Japan at Khalifa International Stadium on November 23, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Another day at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, another upset by an Asian side over an established power.
Japan stole Wednesday's headlines by following the exact formula to beat Germany as Saudi Arabia used to down Argentina the day before.
The Samurai Blue went down one goal by way of a penalty, made some smart substitutions and tactical adjustments and scored two goals in the second half to pick up three points.
Japan's win shook up the complexion of Group E, which many people thought would be controlled by Spain and Germany.
Spain held up its end of the bargain with a comprehensive 7-0 thumping of Costa Rica. La Roja now have a commanding lead over Japan on goal differential going into a massive clash with Germany on Sunday.
Group F did not deliver on the attacking fireworks we had hoped to see. Morocco and Croatia played to a scoreless draw, and Belgium beat Canada 1-0.
Canada looked like it would add its name to the list of underdog winners in Qatar, but its marvelous first half fizzled out into a disappointing second half that allowed Belgium to end Wednesday on top of Group F.
Costa Rica rarely got the ball out of its own half, and now it sits in a terrible spot in the race to advance out of Group E.
A rebound performance does not appear to be in sight for Los Ticos given the quality within the Germany and Japan sides.
Japan flexed its quality and tactical adjustments in its 2-1 come-from-behind win over Germany. Ritsu Doan and Takuma Asano scored the second-half goals that put the Samurai Blue in front.
The loss marked the second World Cup in a row in which Germany lost in its opening match. The Germans fell to Mexico at the start of their failed title defense in 2018.
Germany's Sunday showdown with Spain gained more importance after its loss and the seven-goal thrashing from Spain.
A second German loss combined with a win by Japan over Costa Rica could knock out the European side before the final matchday. Germany needs to get at least one point out of its match with Spain, because it is expected that Japan will dispatch of Costa Rica.
Group F
1. Belgium - 3 (1 GF, 0 GA, +1 GD)
2. Croatia - 1 (0 GF, 0 GA, 0 GD)
3. Morocco - 1 (0 GF, 0 GA, 0 GD)
4. Canada - 0 (0 GF, 1 GA, -1 GD)
Canada looked like it was going to add its name to the list of surprise winners in Qatar, but it could not capitalize on its opportunities.
Les Rouges were awarded an early penalty against Belgium. Alphonso Davies stepped to the spot, but he poorly struck the shot, which rolled to a diving Thibaut Courtois' right-hand side for a fairly comfortable save.
Canada could not apply the same pressure in the second half, and that led to Belgium being able to seal the match and the three points that came with it.
Morocco and Croatia opened the day with a scoreless draw inside Al Bayt Stadium.
Neither side produced many dangerous attacking chances. Morocco should view the result from a positive perspective more than Croatia because it was the underdog in the match.
The draw could also be viewed as a missed chance for the two sides because of how strong Belgium and Canada looked in their head-to-head clash.
Thursday Schedule
Group G: Switzerland vs. Cameroon (5 a.m. ET, FS1)
Everyone loves an underdog, particularly at the World Cup. For all the dialogue about the
Canada Men's Soccer Team Sitting Out Panama Friendly over Compensation Issues
Jun 5, 2022
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 13: Alphonso Davies #19 of Canada bangs a supporters drum following the final whistle of a 2022 World Cup Qualifying match against Panama at BMO Field on October 13, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
Canada's men's national soccer team went on a strike over player compensation ahead of a friendly against Panama on Sunday.
Westhead shared a copy of the letter outlining the players' requests, which includes a 40 percent share of World Cup prize money:
This is the "Dear Canada" letter released by Canada's national men's team players. Asking for a review of Canada Soccer's broadcast & sponsorship contracts, 40% of World Cup qualification money, and a joint contract with the women's team with equal compensation for match fees. pic.twitter.com/STazGyJ9MW
Canada Soccer confirmed the match has been canceled:
Canada Soccer's Men's National Team international match scheduled for Sunday 5 June at BC Place has been canceled. Additional details will be provided to all ticket purchasers. pic.twitter.com/jUnxTTpZe5
Of course the situation is wildly fluid and complex but Canada Soccer’s communication (much like during the Iran debacle) has been woeful. Fans are left out here utterly clueless as to what’s happening.
In terms of pushing for meaningful change, the leverage for the men's national team has probably never been higher than it is now.
Whereas Canada's women's team has been a World Cup mainstay and sits sixth in the FIFA ranking, the men will be competing in their first World Cup since 1986 when they make the trip to Qatar later this year.
That has only raised expectations for Les Rouges in 2026, when Canada will be co-hosting the World Cup with Mexico and the United States.
The men's national team wrote how it hoped punching a ticket to the 2022 World Cup "would bring a level of respect and financial opportunity that could raise the standards & opportunities for the next generation of players in our country and change the trajectory of soccer in Canada forever."
The team also said that "Canada Soccer signed an agreement with Canadian Soccer Business that has completely compromised their ability to leverage the on-field success of our senior national teams."
Sunday's strike follows a similar dispute between the U.S. women's national team and U.S. Soccer. The women contended there was a wide gulf between their earnings and that of the men despite the USWNT winning back-to-back World Cups in 2015 and 2019.
The yearslong fight finally reached a conclusion in May, with U.S. Soccer signing collective bargaining agreements with the USMNT and USWNT that guaranteed equal pay, including uniform payouts from the World Cup.
Gold Cup 2017: Costa Rica Beats Honduras, Canada over French Guiana on Friday
Jul 7, 2017
Jul 7, 2017; Harrison, NJ, USA; Canada midfielder Alphonso Davies (12) plays the ball against French Guiana forward Rhudy Evens (4) during the first half at Red Bull Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
The 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup got underway Friday with the opening fixtures in Group A from Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey.
Two-time tournament champion Canada kicked off the event against French Guiana, which is making its Gold Cup debut. World Cup hopefuls Costa Rica and Honduras followed in the nightcap with the marquee matchup in Pool A.
Let's take a look at the complete schedule for Day 1. That's followed by a review of the action.
Dejan Jakovic opened the scoring for Canada in the 28th minute and the Canucks held off a late rally from an upstart French Guiana side to earn all three points.
Jakovic, who currently suits up for the New York Cosmos and previously played in MLS with D.C. United, took advantage of some lackluster set-piece defending just before the half-hour mark. The defender found some free space to touch home a cross from just a few yards out.
Fox Soccer highlighted the 2017 Gold Cup's first goal:
Scott Arfield made it 2-0 in first-half stoppage time and 16-year-old rising star Alphonso Davies stretched the lead to three for the Canadians in the 60th minute.
Then, almost out of nowhere, French Guiana made a sudden surge to make a mostly one-sided match competitive again for the final 20 minutes.
Roy Contout tallied the Yana Dokos' first Gold Cup goal in the 69th minute off an assist from Anthony Soubervie. He headed home a perfectly lofted corner for his third international goal.
Sloan Privat found the net again for French Guiana one minute later to get the underdogs right back in the match after struggling to generate any attacking chances for most of the game.
Caribbean Football commented on the surprising turn of events:
Abelinti's header is pushed away, Abelinti follows up and squares for Sloan Privat to tap home, 3-2 now and Guyane starting to believe
— Caribbean Football (@caribbeanfooty) July 8, 2017
Alas, Davies made sure there wouldn't be a storybook ending for the French Guianans by netting his second goal of the match in the 85th minute to relieve the pressure for Canada.
Vancouver Whitecaps teammate David Edgar joked about the teenager's standout performance:
At 16 i was living in my Nanny's house in Newcastle using dial up internet to chat on MSN messenger. Well done @AlphonsoDavies 🇨🇦
Group A will return to action Tuesday for its next pair of fixtures. Canada will look to punch its ticket to the knockout rounds against Costa Rica. Meanwhile, French Guiana must attempt to build off its more promising final 30 minutes when it takes on Honduras.
Costa Rica 1, Honduras 0
Marco Urena converted a volley on a sublime cross from Rodney Wallace shortly before halftime to give Costa Rica a lead it would never relinquish Friday evening.
As expected, it was a tightly contested encounter between two sides still alive in CONCACAF qualifying for the 2018 World Cup. All it took was one moment of attacking brilliance from the Ticos to shift the result in their favor.
Fox Soccer spotlighted the only goal of the match in the 40th minute:
The Catrachos controlled the pace of play in the second half. They held 67 percent of possession and generated seven shots compared to three for Costa Rica. The finishing touch they needed to at least get back level never arrived, however.
Gold Cup 2017 passed along complete match highlights:
Getting the victory gives the Ticos a little extra breathing room heading into their final two matches, starting with the Canada clash Tuesday.
On the flip side, Honduras must be careful against a group from French Guiana that should possess some added confidence after a competitive showing against the Canucks.
What's Next for Canadian Soccer After a Long and Emotional Summer?
Jul 26, 2015
A Canada fan reacts after Canada's Cyle Larin missed a shot at goal during the first half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match against El Salvador, Wednesday, July 8, 2015, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Almost three years have passed since Canada infamously lost 8-1 to Honduras in third-round World Cup qualifying. This humbling defeat was supposed to spark significant change within the Canadian Soccer Association.
The CSA hired ex-Real Madrid coach Benito Floro to take over the senior men's national team. He was handed one of the most difficult tasks he's ever undertaken, but he had full backing from president Victor Montagliani (via Red Nation Online's Steve Bottjer):
Benito Floro is renowned for his tactical and strategic approach to the game and his influence in implementing a more attacking style of football in Spain. We are confident he will provide a strong leadership in the development of Canada’s Men’s game, as well as complement and elevate the work that our technical department, lead by Tony Fonseca, is already doing.
Fonseca, a former player with Benfica and other Portuguese sides, has been Canada's technical director since 2012. He coached the Vancouver Whitecaps, headed the Canadian under-23 side and was an assistant with the senior national team in the past.
Fonseca arguably has a tougher job than Floro right now. As technical director, the Portuguese "will be responsible for the overall management and direction of the technical growth and development of soccer in Canada," said Montagliani in 2012, per Dave Rowaan of SB Nation.
Montagliani went on to say that "[Fonseca] will be in charge of setting a vision for all aspects of the game, including coach education, long-term player development, elite player development and all other technical-related or sport specific initiatives."
The coaching education and player development have been two of Canada's biggest issues for many years. This is why Fonseca has a tough job on his hands.
DOHA, QATAR - MARCH 21: Tony Fonseca coach of Canada speaks to the media during the Canadian Football team press conference before the International Friendly football match between Japan and Canada at Khalifa International Stadium on March 21, 2013 in Do
Part of this plan involves the removal of league standings from U12 and below, which is a tremendous idea. Many coaches at the grassroots level in Canada focus more on winning than they do on the kids. If a child isn't having fun or improving, then he/she will likely stop playing.
The success of LTPD has a lot to do with coaching. There have been a few promising players who have become professionals such as the Vancouver Whitecaps' Russell Teibert and Toronto FC's Jonathan Osorio.
Brampton, Ontario’s Cyle Larin was the No. 1 pick in this year's MLS SuperDraft and has had a productive season for Orlando City SC. He's scored six goals in 14 appearances and was called up to Canada's U20 and senior squads this year.
However, the U20 team finished fifth place out of six teams in Group B at the 2015 CONCACAF under-20 Championships. It was a highly touted squad and was supposed to qualify for the U20 World Cup, but it flopped.
The Gold Cup squad was even worse. Canada finished bottom of Group B with two points and zero goals scored. Les Rouges conceded just once the entire tournament, which was a last-gasp winner for Jamaica.
Floro was blamed for the scoring woes and this criticism was warranted. He kept Teibert—a fast, hardworking, technical playmaker—on the bench and only substituted him into the game when it was too late for him to make any real impact.
Russell Teibert, center, could've given Canada a creative spark at the Gold Cup, but barely saw the field.
The same problem occurred with Osorio. He started the final match but was taken off for defender Andre Hainault when Canada needed a goal to stay in the tournament.
On the other hand, Canada was missing a few key players. Veteran Atiba Hutchinson was injured, as was young West Ham defender and TFC academy graduate Doneil Henry. Midfielder Will Johnson also would've given Canada a box-to-box midfielder that it lacked.
However, the Gold Cup disappointment can also be blamed on poor finishing. Larin missed a sitter against El Salvador in Canada's opening game, which would've likely clinched all three points.
Marcus Haber also wasted a terrific opportunity versus Costa Rica. He fired a shot from point-blank range right at goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado.
Hainault also hit a shot right on net when Alvarado was caught out of position late in the second half of the same game. The opportunity for an open net goal was foiled when Hainault’s shot hit a defender, and Canada couldn't take advantage.
It's no wonder why Canada is currently riding a six-game goalless skid at the Gold Cup. It also hasn't won since the 2011 edition of the tournament.
The mediocrity in Canada is difficult to fathom. The CSA claims to have 850,000 registered players and estimate that "within next two or three years" that number will surpass 1 million. When compared to the United States' 3 million as of 2014, those Canadian figures are impressive.
Viewership for the 2014 World Cup set records across the country. The 2015 Champions League final drew around 230,000, and Canada's opening game at the Women's World Cup drew some impressive numbers, per Chris Zelkovich of Yahoo Sports Canada.
Canada's women's team was well supported as the host. More than 54,000 attended the quarterfinal against England, per Neil Davidson of the Canadian Press (via CBC Sports), but the fans were left disappointed after the English triumphed 2-1.
Like the men, Canada's player pool wasn't deep enough compared to teams like the U.S., Germany and France. The Canadians looked much slower, their first touches were heavier and defensively they conceded too many mistakes.
The bright side for the women's team is the impressive display at the Pan American Games. Canada made it to the bronze-medal match despite choosing a younger squad. The Canadians lost to Mexico in that game, but the main focus was on the youngsters to determine who can gain call-ups to the senior side.
VANCOUVER, BC - JUNE 27: John Herdman Head Coach of Canada high fives fans prior to the start of the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 Quarter Final match between the England and Canada June, 27, 2015 at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, C
The men's U22 team at the Pan Am Games didn't perform as brightly as the women. Canada scored just one goal and failed to win a single game, but the likes of FC Edmonton forward Hanson Boakai and Toronto FC II's Molham Babouli demonstrated their technique and quickness during the tournament.
Herediano's Keven Aleman was supposed to be one of Canada's creative sparks, but his minutes were cut due to injury. However, in the final group match, Peru's defenders could hardly contain the 21-year-old after he came on as a substitute. He even set up a couple of quality scoring chances and one of his own.
LTPD should help produce more players like Aleman, although it will take years and maybe even decades until Canadian soccer starts reaping the rewards.
Canadian MLS clubs now have strong academy systems and USL affiliates, which allows young players to earn meaningful minutes in a competitive environment.
Ex-Canada international and current TSN analyst Jason deVos feels that this is a positive step forward, but it won’t fix the national team program overnight.
"I think the more professional environments we can create in Canada, the better," deVos told Bleacher Report. "However, a top-down approach will have limited impact, because it doesn't address where our greatest failures lie—at the grassroots level.
"We simply do not do a good enough job of converting the hundreds of thousands of youngsters playing the game recreationally in Canada into a handful of elite, international-caliber players.
"There are skill sets that players need to acquire at the grassroots level to enable them to progress to the highest levels of the game, and that simply isn't happening with enough players because it has, up to now, been left to chance. That has to change."
"It is really not as difficult a fix as some would lead us to believe, though. It is all about creating the right development environments across the country so that talented youngsters get identified at an early age and get the proper training and education in the game. Leaving it until players are 15-16 years of age is far too late."
Due to this flawed system, the player pool is thin and the country underachieves. But it wasn't that long ago when Canada won a meaningful tournament. The Canadians won the 2000 Gold Cup after defeating Colombia in the final.
DeVos scored in that match, but according to the former defender, the player pool wasn't much deeper at that time, either. "I don't think our squad in 2000 was much, if any, deeper than our current pool of players," deVos said.
"What we did have, though, was a core group of players who had established themselves in decent leagues in Europe, and who were 'battle hardened' by competing in CONCACAF. That mental resiliency is what saw us through, along with some wonderful goalkeeping from Craig Forrest and the goals of Carlo Corazzin."
Canada doesn't possess an established goalscorer at the moment, even though Larin has some promise. Les Rouges’ No. 1 Milan Borjan isn't a Premier League regular like Forrest was during his career, either.
In addition, very few players on the current roster have established themselves in Europe. As recently as January, five squad members weren't even under contract to a professional team, per Sportsnet's John Molinaro.
Now with Larin, Teibert, Osorio and defending MLS Rookie of the Year Tesho Akindele, there are some younger players establishing themselves at professional clubs in the United States and Canada.
However, once one generation of players retires, just like the 2000 Gold Cup team did, the national team declines. LTPD should ensure that this doesn’t happen in the future, but improving the grassroots levels of Canadian soccer is dependent on quality coaches who are focused on education.
"An increase in the quantity of high-caliber coaches at the grassroots level is the single biggest thing that we can do (in the short term) to improve our player development system in Canada," said deVos. "We need to have a complete rethink about what coach education means to us. At the moment, it is more about accreditationand less about education—and that needs to change immediately.
"We must take a more holistic approach to coaching soccer in Canada and be able to recognize that there is more than just one way to teach the game. We have willing students who want to learn to be great coaches, and it is up to us, as a nation, to educate them.”
However, there are crucial decisions being made by unqualified people within Canadian soccer. DeVos wrote about the subject after the U20 squad’s abysmal showing at the CONCACAF Championships. This is why it’s important for every facet of Canadian soccer to be on the same page. Coaching and finances can only go so far if their bosses can’t make the correct choice.
“There is no question that at almost every level of the game, crucial technical decisions are being made by individuals who are simply not qualified to make those decisions," deVos said. "Our problem is really one of education; getting everyone who is involved in soccer at every level to understand what their role is and how they can be most effective in their role—then letting the technical experts make the technical decisions.
"There is no question that there is a valuable resource of knowledge in Canada that is currently not being utilized.
"Our former players, coaches and administrators—both male and female—need to be embraced and put back into the field where they can give so much back to the game. That simply isn't being done enough right now."
A former MLS player was actually interested in the Canada job before Floro was hired. Current New York Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch wanted to lead the national team in 2012, per Goal.com's Nick Sabetti.
Hiring Marsch would have been a wise choice for the CSA. The 41-year-old nearly guided the Montreal Impact to the MLS playoffs in their inaugural season in 2012, and he's done remarkably well with New York in his first season. The Red Bulls are in third place in the Eastern Conference despite having the league's lowest payroll, per ESPN FC.
Marsch was also an assistant with the U.S. men's national team under Bob Bradley and has extensive knowledge on other CONCACAF nations.
That being said, it's still too early to judge the Spanish tactician. However, with potential World Cup qualifying matches against Mexico and Honduras, it will be easier to determine if Floro is the right fit with the national team going forward.
Canada will likely lose out to the Mexicans and Hondurans if it progresses past Belize. However, with more focus on coaching at the grassroots level and knowledgeable people making significant decisions, the nation can aspire to even greater heights in the future.
Peter Galindo covers MLS, U.S. and Canadian soccer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @GalindoPW.
Cyle Larin, Tesho Akindele Give Canada Men's National Team Hope for the Future
Jun 14, 2015
May 17, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando City SC forward Cyle Larin (21) reacts after he scored a goal during the first half against the Los Angeles Galaxy at Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Canada's men's national team head coach Benito Floro was hired to usher in a new generation of Canadian players. Floro has since included the likes of the Vancouver Whitecaps' Russell Teibert, Toronto FC's Jonathan Osorio and West Ham's Doneil Henry. The Les Rouges haven't had a talismanic striker for a few years, but those days are over.
Orlando City SC forward Cyle Larin and FC Dallas' Tesho Akindele both started against Dominica in the first leg of their second-round World Cup qualifying matchup on Thursday. It was Akindele's senior debut, which officially tied him to Canada.
Larin bagged his second goal for Canada in the win, and Teibert converted the winner from the penalty spot to secure the 2-0 victory. Dominica is not a soccer hotbed, but it was significant seeing two youngsters scoring for the Canadians.
Cyle Larin is good. I know it's "just" Dominica, but I don't care. He's good.
Akindele didn't get on the scoresheet, but he still impressed on Thursday night. He was involved in the buildup and showed off his tremendous work rate on both sides of the pitch.
Seeing Akindele, Larin and Teibert clicking up front was a far cry from a year ago, when Canada was snapping a 14-month scoring drought.
With the Gold Cup beginning on July 7, with Larin and Akindele in the ranks, Canada actually has a chance of progressing to the knockout stages. It will be difficult with Costa Rica, Jamaica and El Salvador in its group, but it's not an impossible task.
Larin—the first overall pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft—is only going to improve as he earns more minutes with Orlando. The 20-year-old already has 5 goals in 11 appearances, which is a splendid output for a rookie.
Akindele, 2014's MLS Rookie of the Year, has been a regular starter for Dallas so far this season. He's appeared in every match for the Hoops in 2015, scoring three goals in the process. The 23-year-old has played on both flanks, as a No. 10 and as a lone striker, which demonstrates his tactical flexibility.
Tesho Akindele was the first FC Dallas player to win MLS Rookie of the Year.
Teibert has also been deployed in several different positions over the years with the Whitecaps. He's a natural winger but was converted to left-back in 2011. He eventually moved to the right side as an attack-minded forward before settling in the heart of midfield beside Matias Laba.
The Whitecaps academy graduate has a tenacious attitude and has already worn the captain's armband for Vancouver at just 22 years old. His maturity has clearly paid dividends now that he's become a key player for head coach Carl Robinson.
Teibert normally plays as a No. 10 or out wide for his country, but he has the speed, technique and vision to excel in an advanced role. He can also track back and defend, which gives the back line some relief.
Apr 25, 2015; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder Russell Teibert (31) vs DC United on Bell Pitch at BC Place Stadium. DC United won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports
Osorio is a regular for TFC, while defender Karl Ouimette has recently shown improvement with the New York Red Bulls. Henry is also poised for greatness after securing a move to the Premier League.
Though it's pleasing for Canadians to see these young players coming through the national team, the squad is incomplete compared to CONCACAF rivals.
Milan Borjan is a decent shot-stopper, but he doesn't engender the confidence top-tier CONCACAF goalkeepers do for the U.S. and Mexico, among others. This was evident against Dominica when he was sent off for handling the ball outside the box.
Eighteen-year-old Whitecaps homegrown product Marco Carducci was a standout in last year's Canadian Championship semifinals against TFC. Carducci is a potential option for the future, but he needs more competitive games under his belt to solidify himself as Canada's No. 1.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q36t4piSXtI
Midfielder Julian De Guzman, now 34 years old, also looks out of his element. However, there isn't a viable replacement with his level of experience who can claim his spot.
Atiba Hutchinson is still one of the nation's best players, but he's 32 years old. Columbus Crew winger Ethan Finlay could be a possible replacement if he decides to represent Canada, but he's still on the fence.
Despite those concerns, there are several talented Canadian youngsters coming through MLS academies. Now that Vancouver, Toronto and the Montreal Impact have USL affiliates, those kids will be able to play meaningful games and push for a first-team spot.
It may take a few years for the national team to reap those rewards, but with the young nucleus already in place, the future is finally looking bright for Canadian soccer.
Peter Galindo covers MLS and U.S. soccer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @GalindoPW.
