VANCOUVER – Canada coach Jesse Marsch don express disappointment say im team no fit top Group B for 2026 World Cup, but say im still grateful say Canada don reach knockout stage for first time ever. Di co-host only need draw against Switzerland for BC Place to win group and keep home advantage for round of 32 and round of 16, but dem lose 2-1.
Switzerland score two quick goals for second half through Rubén Vargas and Johan Manzambi. Promise David score for Canada for 76th minute, but di equalizer no come. Now Canada go face South Africa for SoFi Stadium for Los Angeles for Sunday. South Africa finish as runners-up for Group A after beating South Korea 1-0.
Marsch tell TSN say im dey disappointed say dem no fit keep di energy wey dem get for Vancouver. “I don experience World Cup and big moments for my career, and when you get one big win, building on top of am na important. So I dey disappointed we no fit win or draw to stay here,” im tok. “But I dey grateful to di country and di stadium for di energy today. E don dey awesome, and dat na why I dey disappoint – because we just want to continue di energy wey we get for Canada. But we dey exactly where we want to be – we dey for knockout stage now, so make we go for am.”
Marsch confirm say Alphonso Davies go fit play for di first time for dis World Cup for knockout stage. Di Bayern Munich star don dey out due to hamstring injury. Marsch use am as “decoy” against Switzerland – im no play, but im presence make Switzerland plan for am. “Alphonso no dey ready yet, but I want Switzerland to tink about am. If you hear dema press conference yesterday, dem yarn about am plenty. Im never ready to play today, but I use am as decoy. Im go dey ready for next match. We no want to put am for danger.”
For di match, Canada get 0-0 at halftime, but Switzerland score two early goals for second half. Rubén Vargas open scoring for 47th minute, and Johan Manzambi add second for 52nd minute. Promise David reduce di deficit for 76th minute, but Canada no fit find equalizer. Switzerland go face a third-place team for Vancouver for round of 32 on July 2.
Marsch admit say im make mistake by no changing tactics at halftime. “We go focus on di positives. We get good performances from bench, but I wish I don go to five at di back to lock tings down at halftime – I wish I don do dat. We too passive for di start of di half. Everyting we work on na about being aggressive and using our athleticism, but when di occasion big, maybe di players dey tighten and hold back. We get to learn from dat for next match, but we know wetin e take to go play for di States, so we go dey ready. I know say our team get heart, and dem go give everyting for every moment, and dat na someting to dey proud of.”
Canada go face South Africa for round of 32. South Africa finish second for Group A after di shock 1-0 win against South Korea. Thapelo Maseko score di winner, and at 22 years old, im become South Africa youngest goalscorer for World Cup. For South Africa, Teboho Mokoena go return from suspension to anchor midfield, but Themba Zwane still out due to red card against Mexico.
Canada go miss midfielder Ismaël Koné, wey don break leg against Qatar and out for tournament. Stephen Eustáquio dey race against time to be fit. But Canada still get attacking firepower with Jonathan David and Cyle Larin. Alphonso Davies fit make im debut for tournament. Di match go be historic as both teams dey play for knockout stage for first time for dema history.
