February 27 – “If I have one message to our president (Donald Trump), it’s lay off the ridiculous rhetoric about Canada being the 51st state,” and with that statement, Canadian national team boss, Jesse Marsch, who grew up in Wisconsin and enjoyed a 13-year career in Major League Soccer (MLS) has lit the fuse and given the Concacaf Nations League (CNL) tournament, a spiciness, that has previously been missing from the three earlier editions, all won by the country of his birth, the United States of America.
Who says politics and sports don’t mix?
Marsch, who played his entire career in MLS for D.C. United, Chicago Fire and Chivas USA before a coaching odyssey that has seen him at the Montreal Impact, NY Red Bulls, Red Bull Salzburg, Red Bull Leipzig, and Leeds United has long been considered one of football’s deepest thinkers, however, to call out Trump, in the media, is either the bravest thing he has ever done, or career suicide, in the country of his birth.
“As an American, I’m ashamed of the arrogance and disregard that we’ve shown one of our historically oldest, strongest and most loyal allies.”
“Canada is a strong, independent nation that’s deeply rooted in decency, and it’s a place that values high ethics and respect, unlike the polarized, disrespectful and often now, hate-fueled climate that’s in the US.”
Next month, Marsch will bring his adopted country, Canada to the futuristic spaceship that is SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California to face off against Mexico in the semi-finals of the CNL, with the hope that the stars align, and he gets to meet the USA in the final if they overcome Panama.
While neither of those scenarios is a given considering SoFi, will all but be a home game for the Tricolor, and Panama has recently owned the US, the thought of Marsch following in the steps of the Canadian hockey team who recently beat the US in the 4 Nations Face-Off is a delicious prospect because he has embraced the culture, North of the Border.
“It’s one of the things that I’ve enjoyed the most about our team, is that they exemplify this as human beings and as a team … So, for me right now I couldn’t be prouder to be the Canadian national team coach. I found a place that embodies, for me, the ideals and morals of what not just football and a team is, but what life is, and that’s integrity, respect and the belief that good people can do great things together.”
The last five meetings between the two countries have produced two wins apiece, and one tie, however, there is a feeling that Marsch has inherited a ‘golden generation’ with the likes of Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies, and the free-scoring Lille striker, Jonathan David.
As a highly progressive coach on and off the field, Marsch has always spoken his mind and is open about his evolvement as a coach in the national team environment,
“I think it’s about determining what are the building blocks, and what’s most important in the way that I want the team to play, and then my precision at communicating those things carefully”.
“I’ve often said that my time at Leeds when I had to go into a relegation fight, taught me what things are valuable, what things were too much, and what things were not enough, and I’ve used that as a blueprint to implement things with the national team.”
As the first American to coach the Canadian national team, it wasn’t clear how the players and public would respond to Marsch, however, after taking out the pin and launching a grenade in the direction of the most divisive President in America’s history, the Canucks have found their hero, Jesse Marsch.
“One thing’s for sure, when I look forward to a month from now … I know this will fuel our team, the mentality we have, the will we have to play for our country, the desire we have to go after this tournament in every way and show on and off the pitch exactly what Canadian character is.”
2024/25 CONCACAF NATIONS LEAGUE FINALS SCHEDULE
Thursday, March 20, 2025 – Semifinals
7:00 pm ET (4:00 pm PT/local) USA vs Panama
10:30 pm ET (7:30 pm PT/local) Canada vs Mexico
Sunday, March 23, 2025 -Third Place Match and Final
6:00 pm ET (3:00 pm PT/local) Loser SF1 vs Loser SF2
9:30 pm ET (6:30 pm PT/local) Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2
Contact the writer of this story, Nick Webster, at moc.l1740657103labto1740657103ofdlr1740657103owedo1740657103isni@1740657103ofni1740657103