No risk, no reward

Opinion

They got the match-up they were wanting. On Sunday, the Canadian men’s soccer team will face the United States in the CONCACAF Nations League finals (5 p.m., TSN & OneSoccer). Unfortunately, it’ll be in the tournament’s third-place game.

“A knife to the heart,” was how Canada manager Jesse Marsch described his team’s 2-0 loss to Mexico in Thursday’s second semifinal. “If you want to play football, you need to take risks,” mused his USA counterpart Mauricio Pochettino, whose players didn’t take enough in a 1-0 defeat to Panama earlier that evening.

Combined, the losing semifinalists launched 21 shots at their opponents. They also enjoyed the majority of possession, superior passing numbers and a more than two-to-one advantage on corner kicks.

Neither, however, suffered. Mexico and Panama, meanwhile, took their lumps, endured their pain and, despite being outplayed, hit back with devastating effect.

El Tri shocked the Canadians with a first-minute opener. Los Canaleros sucker-punched the Americans with a last-minute winner. As a reward, they’ll contest Sunday’s championship match (8:30 p.m., OneSoccer) and have a chance to win a first Nations League title.

It’ll be a fascinating head-to-head at SoFi Stadium — a re-run of the 2023 Gold Cup Final that was played in front of more than 72,000 spectators at the same Inglewood, Calif., venue. Mexico prevailed that night, winning 1-0 on a Santiago Gimenez goal in the 88th minute. It was tight, and it will be again.

Panama, despite being out-possessed by two thirds against the United States, were a picture of discipline on Thursday. Head coach Thomas Christiansen had his players perfectly drilled for what they would face, and captain Anibal Godoy led by example in making four interceptions and two tackles, blocking two shots and prevailing in 80 per cent of his duels.

Mexico, on the other hand, were gifted an opening goal in the 46th second against Canada, after which they basically took their punishment until Raul Jimenez added a second with a stunning free-kick that bent its way inside the near corner. He got the plaudits, but Edson Alvarez was heroic in making a goal-line clearance with his head – one of 13 cleared chances he’d be forced to execute over the 90 minutes.

The two finalists advanced through the tournament because they were strong enough to endure and savvy enough to take their chances.

Incidentally, both of Sunday’s matches were half expected, albeit in different time slots. Desperate to win a first trophy in a quarter century, Canada craved a final against the United States. They would have anyway, but the political instability initiated by the U.S. government had them determined to provide the country with a soccer version of the 4 Nations Face-Off.

In that regard, at least, they’ll still have something to play for in an otherwise purely consolation scenario.

After joining up with the national team, right-back Alistair Johnston told The Guardian Canada was “under threat, under attack” from the United States, and that the situation would “add a couple of degrees of intensity.”

That part hasn’t changed, and if Johnston and his teammates play with fire in their bellies they could still leave the Nations League with an element of pride.

Marsch, however, needs to help them out.

Canada were far too predictable on Thursday, and for all their joy on the ball they allowed Mexico to get into an almost comfortable defensive set-up. Granted, certain positions should rarely be chopped and changed, such as the effective Moise Bombito-Derek Cornelius defensive partnership, and the entire Johnston-Bombito-Cornelius-Alphonso Davies backline for that matter.

The attacking positions need to be refreshed.

Cyle Larin, for all he has done at international level, simply can’t be handed starts because of his history or Marsch’s reluctance to blood in new strikers.

Jonathan David is the team’s undroppable marksman, and if the manager wants to pair him with a bigger forward he should consider 6-5 Promise David (no relation), who’s been scoring for fun in Belgium. And, with all due respect to one of Canada’s great internationals, Jonathan Osorio has no business being in the XI.

In the centre of the park, Stephen Eustaquio could use a partner other than Ismael Kone. Niko Sigur could potentially be his country’s next great midfielder, but once again Marsch is reluctant to deploy the 21-year-old.

If Canada needs to be more ruthless against rivals such as Mexico and the U.S., the manager must lead the way with ruthless decisions.

The Americans have even bigger problems. Pochettino, who almost certainly will not extend his contract beyond next year’s World Cup, is rightfully exasperated with his squad’s lack of intensity.

Christian Pulisic, who should be the Americans’ best player, often looks as if he couldn’t be bothered, and against Panama gave the ball away on 28 occasions. Starting striker Josh Sargent was somehow even more of a non-factor, touching the ball a mere eight times in 68 minutes.

Post-match, Pochettino almost came out and said it when remarking the USA jersey could only do so much. Remove that jersey — this is the part he didn’t say — and his is a team that is slightly better than average, and oftentimes worse.

In that regard, nevermind their non-soccer-related motivations, Canada should be able to at least repeat September’s 2-1 victory over the U.S. on Sunday.

The fear of that knife in Marsch’s heart getting a twist will be inspiration enough.

jerradpeters@gmail.com

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