Canada Beats Wales: World Cup & Team Outlook

Two friendly matches on European soil, two victories, and two whitening. We knew Canada on a good tangent, but maybe not as much.

After beating Romania 3-0 at home on Friday, the reds defeated Wales 1-0 in Swansea on Tuesday. And for the first time in its history, the Canada male team recorded two consecutive victories in Europe.

This time, the victorious goal was signed by the central defender Derek Cornelius, at the end of the first half. And what a goal it was!

Cornelius raised Canadian supporters from their seats with an irresistible free kick, in the 41^e minute. A strike from afar, the genre that will go around the protruding facts for the next few hours. It was his very first goal in the Canadian jersey.

The other success of this second match is the confirmation that the training of coach Jesse Marsch begins to take shape for the World Cup next summer. The only two changes after the victory in Bucharest were goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair for Maxime Crépeau, as well as Nathan Saliba for Stephen Eustáquio, injured.

It was already planned that St. Clair would get the departure in Wales, while Marsch is trying to find out who will be his holder at the World Cup. And the whitening of his two gateways did not help him make a decision, he himself confessed to a press conference, after the meeting.

“Our two guards continue to play at a very high level and show their qualities,” said the coach. And they continue to give me big headaches! »»

According to Marsch, he now has the “beautiful problem” of having two players for each position. “The more we go to the World Cup, it will be a whole challenge to define that will be training. »»

“We folded, but we did not break”

As for Wales, eight players who were not their qualification match for the World Cup in Kazakhstan last Friday were holders on Tuesday. Yes, this may explain, in part, the superiority of Canada in this match.

But rolling out of the opponent or not, these meetings have historically been out of reach for the Canadian team. These two European victories, obtained with the way, success and depth, really give the impression that we enter a new era.

Thus, Cornelius’ goal confirmed what the eyes could detect in the first period, that Canada was dominating red dragons at home. A bit like in Romania, we felt that the locals found their feeling a little when the break is returned. But quickly, Jesse Marsch’s men regained control of the commitment.

And until its release at 76^e Minute, we saw an Ismaël Koné in great shape, chaining the thrusts in the offensive zone and the learned passes towards depth. As if he had used the last days since his strong reaction to his substitution in Romania as an additional motivation to make his mark. His sublime cross shot that struck the post, at 9^e Minute was the result of an opportunity he created from scratch.

His association in the midfield with Saliba was particularly successful. Solid, creative, enthusiastic as much in their duels as to bring the team forward, the two Montrealers have scored many points in Swansea.

“I think Ismael has managed very well,” said Marsch. He had two very good performances in this camp. He showed discipline, and a good understanding of his tactical role. »»

The coach had similar words for Saliba, adding that he “knew” that the young Quebecer was going to shine, in view of his performances since the summer and his “last 10 days in training”.

“He was one of our best guys,” said Marsch.

Its Canada, you will understand, sail on positive waves in times that run. With less than 10 games to play – all friendly – by the World Cup, the September camp has just put more than solid bases after the hasty exit from the Gold Cup.

And now, the next Canada meeting will be in Montreal, against Australia on October 10, for the first visit of the men’s team in the Quebec metropolis since 2017.

“I challenged the guys to take all this in a month where we left him,” said Marsch.