Canada coach Jesse Marsch saw his team’s Copa America campaign end with a 2-0 defeat to world champions Argentina on Tuesday. He acknowledged that the unexpected run to the semifinals had taken a toll on his squad.
Marsch, the former RB Leipzig and Leeds United manager, has quickly implemented his high-energy, pressing style since taking over Canada in May. However, he admitted that the demanding schedule and New Jersey heat were challenging for his players, highlighting the need for a broader player pool.
"I think the tournament caught up with us a bit. Argentina rotated their squad frequently, so they weren’t relying on the same players every match," Marsch said.
"We’ve dealt with heat, travel, and many challenges. We’re still at the beginning of our process, whereas Argentina has had years to build their team. We need to develop more players who can contribute so we can rotate effectively during tournaments. Eventually, physical fatigue can become an issue, and that played a significant role in our performance tonight."
Despite the loss, Marsch praised the team’s semifinal run in their debut Copa America appearance as a significant achievement.
"I told the team that I know they’re disappointed, but I’m incredibly proud of them. We’ve delivered some remarkable performances," he said.
"We're just beginning our journey, but these past five or six weeks have exceeded our expectations. We still have much work to do, but we’ve laid a solid foundation and I’m optimistic about the future."
Canada, co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup with the USA and Mexico, showed progress beyond Marsch’s initial expectations.
"I worried that the Copa America might be too tough a challenge for us initially, but I’m glad to have been proven wrong," he added.
"We performed well in most matches, which has advanced us further than I anticipated. The experience has made us stronger, and we’ll use it to grow, develop, and build confidence in what we’re doing."