Jesse Marsch: Stop being ‘negative’; this Canada team can score goals

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The jovial Jesse Marsch took a quick moment from his jocular exchanges with the media post-game on Friday to say, bluntly and unbidden: “I’m not here to take a bunch of negative questions, and if you ask me negative questions, then I’ll just move on to the next one.”

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The Canadian men’s national team coach knew what was coming  even if it hadn’t been asked yet — and he wanted no part of it.

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Can this team score goals?

Friday’s friendly 1-1 draw with Ireland was largely positive. Canada dominated the play, outshooting an Ireland team playing without most of its experienced players, but could only muster an own goal off a Stephen Eustáquio corner kick that deflected off Ireland’s Jake O’Brien.

Canada’s expected goals was just 1.10 compared to 1.56 for the Irish.

And in the one year since a 6-0 demolition of Honduras, Les Rouges have played 13 games, scoring 14 goals, and getting shut out four times.

They’ve scored more than two goals just once in that span — last September against Romania in a 3-0 victory — and in the nine games since that, just eight goals. Compounding that number is three of those came from the penalty spot.

Marsch said this team has “firepower” and that the goals will be coming. But who will they come from, and will they come in time for the World Cup?

Of Jonathan David’s last four goals, three have been from the spot. He didn’t record a shot on target against Ireland.

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And it’s been a slow season for him at the club level, too. The 87-goal run in five seasons at Lille didn’t translate to success in David’s move to Juventus this season, with just six goals across all competitions.

Cyle Larin, who parlayed an excellent loan spell at Southampton in the English Championship into a two-year contract on Friday, hasn’t scored for Canada since Oct. 15, 2024 against Panama — a stretch of 14 games.

He looked disconnected against the Irish, routinely making far post runs that saw most of the crosses intercepted before they reached him.

The 31-year-old, a.k.a. the Brampton Bagsman, lit up the Championship with eight goals in 16 appearances while on loan from RCD Mallorca, but that form hasn’t translated to the national team.

“I thought Cyle did a lot of things right, and he was in a lot of positions to score a goal … then doesn’t quite get the goal on the day,” said Marsch. “This is the way it’s been a little bit for Cyle. That’s why it was so great to see him doing so well at Southampton, getting goals week after week after week, and I believe that that’s coming for him here as well.”

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Marsch still believes in Canada’s depth, even at striker, where Promise David (three goals, 10 games) and Tani Oluwaseyi (2, 24 games) sit behind the all-time goal leaders on the depth chart.

“I also think Tani has been really good in the last two games, and we all know that Promise is capable of pulling out wonders at any time,” said Marsch. “So it’s going to be my job to figure out for each match what do we need from the start, and then how do you use those weapons off the bench?”

Since that 2025 game against Honduras at B.C. Placenine other players have scored for Canada, easing the pressure of scoring off the forward line, but goals from the run of play will still be a question Marsch will have to face.

The glare from the World Cup spotlight begins to shine Friday against Bosnia and Herzegovina at BMO Field in Toronto.

Marsch said he saw a team that played free and clear of any mental obstructions in Friday night’s draw, and the experience players have from playing in Qatar and the Copa America will serve to quell those impertinent questions about scoring.

“This a starting group we can count on, and then we’ll just have to think about for each match … which players are best to start and which are best to come off the bench,” Marsch said. “I don’t think we’re overly anxious or excited about the World Cup. Obviously we know it’s going to be some big matches and some big moments for everyone, but I think the focus and concentration within the team to now manage is in the game and the opponents have been really good.”

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