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Chapter 1: What are the latest updates on Canada Soccer's World Cup preparations?
Let's bring in the head coach of the men's national team. There he is, Jesse Marsh. How you doing, Jesse?
What's up, guys? I can't believe this. I'm like an active now guest here. You guys are football fans.
We're all in. We're all in. How are we feeling now that you're through the selection process? And I understand you've got to make more selections because we've had an injury even since Friday. But does it feel like there's more relief?
Is there more, I don't want to say you're relaxed around the camp, but now that everyone's made it and everyone knows kind of who's going to be a part of this program, how would you compare the vibes today to even a few weeks ago?
Well, I think there's been a real like lasered in attention span and focus to make sure that we capture the games, capture the moment for the country. So, you know, I'm really fortunate to have an incredible group of guys that are very selfless, very committed to this program, are so excited for the World Cup, the home World Cup.
So, you know, it's actually been more about just trying to keep everybody like calm and confident. about what we're doing, and that part, I think, will help us focus on what it will take to be successful in these matches. So there's clear excitement, but I think the concentration to do what we need to do to make sure we can win has really been at the forefront.
Coaches are always thinking. Is there one thing that kind of keeps you up at night, or is it just a bunch of different things, planning, injuries, who's going to go? What kind of gets your attention before your head hits the pillow?
Well, look, I think if you've followed things publicly, almost everything I get in the media now is about our injury situation because we've had a lot of guys that are coming back. So, you know, I'm focusing so much on trying to really think about the loading, the return to play protocols. Everything from Alfonso Davies to Moise Bombido to Promise David.
We've got a lot of guys that are coming back from injury. And I just don't want to have any setbacks. And I want to give this team the chance to have their best weapons, best players, the full complement of talent available so that we can really give ourselves the best chance to be successful.
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Chapter 2: How is Alphonso Davies' injury affecting the Canadian squad?
So, you know, without trying to put pressure on him, like, you know, I really believe in Alphonso. And so we're taking it day by day. We're really trying to monitor where we are with everyone, but specifically Alphonso. He's shown to be a quick healer over the years. We obviously know what an incredible athlete he is. So I'm not counting him out of anything.
I like it.
You know, we obviously want to get him back, and we want to get him back at his top form, and we don't want to risk, you know, setbacks. But, you know, I know the kind of competitor Alfonso is, and I know the kind of athlete. So, you know, he's going to play in this tournament.
So how can he help you when he's not playing? By being around or being a mentor, being a good teammate? How does he help?
You know, I mean, you guys know this. When you're around the best players, they have a different kind of aura. When they step into the room, there's an energy shift.
And so the minute that Alphonso ever walks into this team, and especially the fact that we haven't seen him a while, the impact on the rest of the team, the confidence they feel, the desire they feel to make sure they can give him a chance to play in this tournament, right? Like, all of a sudden, everything sort of shifts. And you start to feel like greatness.
And so how lucky are we at Canada to have a player like that, first of all? And then I think that his overall positivity, the smile on his face, the energy that he exudes every time he's around, how much he loves playing for the national team has a big impact on the overall group.
With Jesse Marsh, again, World Cup kicking off next week on TSN, Canada, Bosnia, down at Toronto Stadium on Friday, kickoff just after 3 p.m. Alfonso was obviously a big part of the last World Cup experience, and you do have a number of carryover players. You've got a lot of new players as well, but you have some veterans that were there a few years ago in Qatar. What do you hope...
the kind of veterans of the World Cup in the past, the experience that they gained from that, that they can apply to this World Cup?
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Chapter 3: What strategies is Jesse Marsch using to manage player fitness?
Well, you guys got passed Uzbekistan the other night. You've got Ireland and Montreal as your final tune-up on Friday. What are you hoping you can gain out of that final match before you actually get to the real stuff?
Yeah, I think Uzbekistan was a good performance, but I think we know we have to be better. And the attention to detail and the intensity will be higher in this match. And then this puts us one week out from a big match. The other part about Uzbekistan is we did a big fight.
physical fitness element when we were down in Carolina so the players weren't all fully at like fresh 100% freshness and now we'll give them a little bit more time to recover and recharge and now let them fly so I expect a really strong performance against Ireland which will give us confidence going into the first match against Bosnia then we'll use that last week to prepare and get ready in every way to make sure that we make this country proud
So, Jesse, are you going to manage minutes still and just kind of make sure everybody's feeling right heading into that last week? Is that the thought process in this last friendly?
It's still the last preparation, so we'll probably ramp up minutes for certain players. We'll measure things carefully to make sure that each player is kind of getting what they need, but then also make sure that we get the kind of performance as a team that we need. We've also scheduled a... practice match the next day against a U.S. semi-pro team.
So, like, to make sure that all the players get what they need from a fitness and tactical perspective in this last week before we head into the move to Toronto and the match against Bosnia. So, you know, that's the, we've really tried to kind of build things in this overall process so we can get guys fit.
We'll get guys healthy first from injuries, then get guys fit, and then ramp them up as we go along so that in that first match, they're ready to fly.
So since the last time we've had you on, Jesse, you've signed yourself an extension with the program. You're going to be up here for quite a number of years beyond this World Cup. Take us through. Give me some more appearances on your show, Brian. Yes, exactly. You're always welcome. I put that in my contract. As you should. I've got to have at least once a month. As you should, absolutely.
No, you didn't. You didn't do that. I can't imagine that actually happened. Uh, so why, why, why is this connection work so well for you and you know, your, your commitment to the program? Why is, why is that important for you?
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Chapter 4: How does the team plan to handle the pressure of a home World Cup?
Soccer can continue to grow and we can really use the athletic qualities that we have of the kids and of the youth and really start to build something that can be sustainable and very successful for the future. So that part is really exciting. There's a lot of people in the communities that I think really want to work together and help the sport grow.
And we just want to channel everybody's energies in the right way so that we can give our kids the best chance to be great.
Yeah, we love hearing that. And the biggest platform you could ask for begins in about nine days from now, a home World Cup. We are absolutely ecstatic. We cannot wait to get things going next week. I know people in Toronto, people in Vancouver have been waiting a long, long time, and obviously you and your crew have been waiting a long time as well.
So best of luck as of next Friday and beyond, and I guess we'll catch up monthly for the next four years at least. Thank you, Jesse.
Yeah, well, look, when we get to the knockouts, right?
Absolutely. You got it. Lock us in. Thanks, Jesse. Good luck.
All right, guys.
Thanks, man. You got it. Jesse Marsh, head coach of... The Canadian men's national team. Just ask your smart speaker to play I Heart Pride Canada. Stream us on your phone or listen now at IHeartRadio.ca.
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