Canada gets its chance ‘to go after a giant’

A very different Canada will take on Morocco in today’s World Cup rematch (12 p.m., TSN & CTV). Different in personnel; different in preparation. And very, very different in what it expects of itself.

Three-and-a-half years ago, the Canadian men’s soccer team wrapped up its group stage campaign with a 2-1 loss to the Moroccans in Qatar. Having already been beaten by Belgium and Croatia, it caught the next flight home. The Atlas Lions, meanwhile, roared into the semifinals.

Now, three-and-a-half years might not seem all that long, but when Canada takes the pitch just prior to noon in Houston its lineup will include two, possibly three players — tops — who started that game at Al Thumama Stadium.

Goalkeeper Milan Borjan has since retired from the national team, and defender Steven Vitória is assistant manager of Indonesia.

Left-back Sam Adekugbe has been out long-term through injury; defender Kamal Miller has been dropped; midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye and forward Junior Hoilett are no longer in the picture; and both Jonathan Osorio and Alphonso Davies will begin today’s contest as substitutes.

Davies, remember, played as a right-winger in the 2022 match — a bizarre decision by then-head coach John Herdman, who made a number of them.

In other words, Morocco will not be at all familiar with the Canadian men, despite having faced them relatively recently.

Besides, Canada was glad to simply be involved in the last World Cup. That, too, has changed, and in a big, big way.

Jesse Marsch, who replaced Herdman in 2024, has spent more than two years preparing his players for this moment. His arrival brought with it an immediate jolt to the training regimen, and a quick trip to the semifinals of the Copa America introduced the up-tempo, high-pressing team that’s about to feature in the Round of 16.

In his post-match remarks after Sunday’s dramatic win over South Africa, Marsch told TSN his group deserved a chance “to go after a giant.” It’s about to get that chance. And today it will get a giant that, itself, is quite different from the 2022 version.

Back then, there was little indication that Morocco would shortly become the powerhouse that would go more than two years without a loss at senior level. An early elimination at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations was humbling, and between March of that year and the spring of 2024 it won just seven of 14 internationals.

It hasn’t lost since, the only trip-up being January’s Cup of Nations defeat to Senegal on penalties — a result that was controversially overturned. It’s actually better than its world ranking of seventh and is among the favourites to lift the trophy later this month.

Like Canada, it has also turned over much of its squad and is better for it.

For today’s encounter, manager Mohamed Ouahbi will deploy just four players who lined up opposite the Canadians in Qatar. Among the new faces are key midfielder Neil El Aynaoui, Real Madrid winger Brahim Diaz and free-scoring striker Ismael Saibari.

This team is loaded with talent, likes to possess the ball and — at the flick of a switch — can turn that control into overwhelming intensity.

It’s an intimidating proposition, but Canada might be uniquely suited to give Morocco a game.

For one thing, Marsch’s men love a fast-paced contest. They’re also more than happy to get a bit chippy and unsettle their opponents physically. And if there’s a side that can match Morocco’s intensity, it might be Canada’s.

Marsch can also learn from successes — and the mistakes — of the 2022 clash.

Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi was then, as he is now, among the world’s best right-backs. Nevertheless, Canada’s most useful attacking patterns came down his flank in Qatar. Tajon Buchanan, on his opposite side, caused Hakimi fits back then. Perhaps he plays a similar role this time around.

Canada was also vulnerable to long, arcing passes over the defence at the last World Cup.

In scoring the winning goal, Youssef En-Nesyri got on the end of an overhead ball before drilling it under Borjan’s left arm. Canada plays an even higher line now, and Morocco will look to exploit it. Marsch is loath to use a low block, but a little pragmatism would serve him well in Houston.

To that end, it could well be time to spring a little surprise.

Morocco may not know Canada’s squad, but everyone knows Canada’s approach. It’s extremely predictable.

What if, say, an extra midfielder was used to pack the middle of the park. The change in tactic might confuse Morocco’s build-up play, at least from the start, and Marsch could always revert to his narrow, high-octane 4-4-2 later on when fresh, fast legs would provide an advantage.

Begin with patience, conclude with urgency.

That would show a very different Canada, indeed.

winnipegfreepress.com/jerradpeters