Jesse Marsch becoming a Canadian hero and he does not care what Americans think

The Canada players were still coming to terms with the enormity of Stephen Eustáquio’s stunning stoppage-time winner only moments earlier when Jesse Marsch gathered them in a huddle on the pitch.

This may not have been the greatest performance but it certainly produced the greatest result in Canadian football history and their American manager was not going to pass up the opportunity to very publicly ram home that message in his home country.

“Guys, think about the two years we’ve been together,” Marsch told his squad after the final whistle.

“Think about how we talked about sticking to the plan, sticking to who we want to be, playing aggressive, accessing the quality, you guys showing your character.

“You guys are Canadian heroes. Canadian heroes. Canadian heroes for the future children of this country, who play this sport. This sport has a big future because of you guys. You should be so proud of who you are. You should be so proud of this game. You went after it, moment after moment. You are Canadian heroes.”

Was it a touch performative? Absolutely, not least the repeated references to “Canadian heroes”, but then Marsch had a very blunt response for anyone who questioned it.

“I mean, look, people like to say it’s performative to meet on the pitch and frankly, I don’t give a s— what people have to say,” he said. “All I care about is our own team and what we do together. It’s a shame we couldn’t do it in Vancouver right in front of our fans but nonetheless, I think we saw the character of the team, the quality of the team, the mentality of the team, the togetherness of the team.”

South Africa, the first of nine African representatives to play at this stage of the competition, had frustrated Canada for much of a turgid match that was not exactly an advert for the newly expanded knockout stages that watching Fifa president Gianni Infantino would have hoped for.

Indeed, the first ever round-of-32 match in the 96-year history of the World Cup had been something of a snoozefest and was heading for extra time and, regrettably, another 30 minutes until Eustáquio popped up in the 92nd minute to score a wonderful goal that will have reverberated from Toronto to Vancouver.

Taking the ball down on his chest after South Africa had failed to clear a cross to safety, the Porto midfielder – on loan at Los Angeles FC – thumped a finish from the edge of the penalty area into the bottom corner.

For Eustáquio, it was an incredibly emotive moment. In 2023, he lost his mother to brain cancer, and a year later, his father died from a heart attack. “I couldn’t think of a more deserving human being for that moment,” said Marsch. “I’m really happy for him and I think from somewhere his parents are looking down and they saw that.”

Canada will face the winner of Netherlands vs Morocco in the last 16.

They may have given up home advantage after failing to win their group but, for Marsch, this has at least presented an opportunity to make a point on US soil.

Relations have not exactly been smooth between Canada and the US amid Donald Trump’s ongoing tariff war and there has also been a little needle between Marsch and the country of his birth.

Unhappy at being passed over for the United States job in the last few years, Marsch had already aimed a dig at the home nation at this tournament when he revealed that, during his time as assistant to former US manager Bob Bradley, they would have to “beg” some players to sing the national anthem.

He then contrasted that to his Canadian players belting out their anthem “at the top of their lungs”. Clint Dempsey, one of the players when Marsch was involved in the US set-up, was unimpressed and told the former Leeds United manager to “stay in his lane”.

So perhaps Marsch has a little added motivation at this World Cup. No one could say he was not fired up for this one. Angry Canada were denied a penalty late in the first period, even though Khuliso Mudau appeared to get a faint touch on the ball before catching Richie Laryea, Marsch strode on to the pitch and seemed ready to confront the Portuguese referee João Pedro Silva Pinheiro as soon as the half-time whistle sounded.

Who knows what he might have said had he not been stopped in his tracks by his own defender Moïse Bombito, who sensibly ushered his coach away. It does not seem to take much to set off Marsch and he was spotted angrily wagging a finger at Mudau in the second half after feeling the South Africa player had made a meal of a challenge.

Canada were the better team here and looked like they might open up South Africa fairly easily early on. The Africans made a hash of defending several set-pieces but Canada’s finishing was not good enough and, as the game wore on, it became a war of attrition. Tani Oluwaseyi squandered Canada’s best chance of the second half when his shot was saved but that was all forgotten when Eustáquio scored.

“I am American and I’m proud to be American but I do think that the ideals and the characteristics of Canadian people fit me really well,” Marsch said. “They value kindness, they value generosity. I think it’s a country that is very welcoming to outsiders, appreciates you for the things you do more than the things you say.

“Sometimes I know that Americans, we get a certain rap for being boisterous, for being arrogant, for being outwardly vocal, and I know that in many ways that does describe me and people or at least people love to describe me that way.

“But again, I don’t give a s—. All I care about is working with the teams I work with and the players I work with and helping them be the best that they can be.”

10:27pm

Eustaquio realistic about Canada’s chances

I think we worked a lot to get this victory. We really wanted to give this win to all of the Canadians. We just kept believing, kept pushing and I couldn’t have imagined it any other way. I think it was an amazing goal but when I shot, I felt everyone shot with me. They put a little bit of power on it and it went into the back of the net. So I am very happy.

It started when we came out of the group stage. I think when it comes to the knockouts of the World Cup, the belief brings a big part to it. Now, we’re going to get Morocco or the Netherlands and who knows, on a good day we can make things happen. Probably the quality is not going to be there, but if we keep believing and keep working, things might go our way.

10:09pm

Jesse Marsch with his players in the huddle

Canadian heroes. The future of the sport in this country is huge because of you.

Canada coach Jesse Marsch celebrates with players after the match — Canada coach Jesse Marsch celebrates – Lisi Niesner/Reuters

09:59pm

FT: South Africa 0 Canada 1

Canada are through to the last 16, and looking at the draw there is a good chance Mexico and United States can join them. Good for the tournament to see the co-hosts progress. There was not much to like about either team’s performance, it was an eyesore of the game. Eustaquio is now a Canadian hero and a neutrals’ favourite because he spared us another 30 minutes of stodge.

Canada's Stephen Eustaquio — Stephen Eustaquio provided the game’s one moment of quality – Andre Penner/AP

09:57pm

96 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 1

Canada’s goalkeeper Crepeau commands his box well and claims a cross. Canada fans can breathe easily, now surely.

09:56pm

95 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 1

Mbokazi is up from the back for South Africa, and Cornelius clears his low cross. Around one minute for Canada to defend, and Cornelius wins another header from Appollis’s cross.

09:55pm

94 minutes: South Africa 0 Canada 1

South Africa are now lumping the ball forward having spent the game passing slowly, but the clock is against them.

09:53pm

GOOAAALL! Eustaquio the hero for Canada

Finally, a moment of quality to break the game open. Decent three-man combination on Canada’s right to release Shaffelburg to cross into the box; headed clear, but Canada’s captain Eustaquio controlled the ball on his midriff and found the bottom corner with a sweet strike. Great moment for him with just four minutes of stoppage time remaining.