Canada shouldn't be favourites heading into Gold Cup: captain Jonathan David
VANCOUVER - One of Canada's brightest soccer stars doesn't believe the country should be favourites heading into the Gold Cup.
Yes, Canada is a solid squad, striker Jonathan David said, but it has only won the tournament once before — and that was 25 years ago.
'I think to be favourites in a tournament, you have to be the one that maybe has won it the most times,' David told reporters on Monday.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
'Of course, I know we have a strong team and we can challenge, for sure, to win it. To be favourites isn't something I would say, personally. But I know we can achieve it.'
The 30th-ranked Canadians will kick off their Gold Cup quest on Tuesday when they host No. 75 Honduras at Vancouver's B.C. Place.
The two sides last met during CONCACAF Nations League play in March, where Canada recorded a 4-1 victory.
That doesn't mean much, though, said Canada head coach Jesse Marsch.
'We have to make sure that in no way we take anything for granted or assume we are better than anyone. We have to fight for everything on the pitch,' Marsch said.
'That has to be the first thing in our mentality for what this is going to take. And to earn the right to play the football that we think we can play, we have to be up for the challenge, up for the fight, and make sure that we are first when it comes to duels, when it comes to foot races, when it comes to physically being in the match.'
Following Tuesday's game, the Canadians will shift to Houston to face No. 90 Curaçao on June 21 before wrapping Group B play against No. 81 El Salvador on June 24.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
The winner and runner-up from each of the four groups advance to the knockout stage in the 16-team tournament.
Canada is coming off a trophy-winning performance at the inaugural Canadian Shield last week, and is confident heading into the Gold Cup.
'I think we're the best team in the tournament,' said veteran forward Cyle Larin. 'Each game, we have to take it step by step. You never know in football what could happen. The first game against Honduras will be a good test to go out there and win.'
The Canadian Shield ended with Canada falling to Ivory Coast in a penalty shootout after neither side scored in regulation.
The team can't be as passive against Honduras if they want to have 'big ambition, big goals,' David said.
'It's just not sitting back, not letting the other team set the tempo for us, that we have to be on the front foot, we have to be the aggressors,' said the striker.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
Marsch has named David captain for the tournament — a move the 25-year-old didn't initially agree with.
'We got on a call and (Marsch) told me 'I'm thinking of putting you captain.' At first, it was my maybe humble answer that I think there's maybe a couple of guys ahead of me,' David explained.
'But then, we kept talking a little bit more and I was like, 'OK.' This is also a challenge for me to also put myself a little bit more out there and help the team in different ways. So I see it as a challenge. And I'm ready for it.'
For David, part of that challenge is finding his voice.
'I'm often more a chill, laid back guy that loves to play, loves to work hard on the pitch so I think people can feed off that,' he said. 'So the challenge for me is to be more vocal about saying more to the team and not be shy to speak my mind, even if it's wrong. And also to be open to have those conversations with teammates and not to be afraid.'
This year's Gold Cup is taking place at several of the venues that will host the 2026 World Cup games — including B.C. Place.
While the tournament is an opportunity to work toward next summer's ambitions, the Canadians are keeping their focus locked on what's directly ahead.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
That focus is what has helped the team achieve success in the past, Marsch said.
'We can talk about grander visions, but right now, we're solely focused on this match against Honduras and making sure that we know what they're going to challenge us with and that we're up for understanding the match,' he said.
Canada has faced Honduras 28 times across all competitions, and Honduras holds a 12-9-7 record in those meetings.
Heading into Tuesday's game, Marsch said he's expecting to come up against an aggressive opponent who will be defensively stingy and dangerous on set pieces.
'We think that this is the most important game of the tournament,' the coach said. 'Honduras is a very good team, and we know that if we can manage the first game in the right way, that we can set ourselves up for success.'
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2025.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Toronto Star
7 hours ago
- Toronto Star
Canada shouldn't be favourites heading into Gold Cup: captain Jonathan David
VANCOUVER - One of Canada's brightest soccer stars doesn't believe the country should be favourites heading into the Gold Cup. Yes, Canada is a solid squad, striker Jonathan David said, but it has only won the tournament once before — and that was 25 years ago. 'I think to be favourites in a tournament, you have to be the one that maybe has won it the most times,' David told reporters on Monday. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'Of course, I know we have a strong team and we can challenge, for sure, to win it. To be favourites isn't something I would say, personally. But I know we can achieve it.' The 30th-ranked Canadians will kick off their Gold Cup quest on Tuesday when they host No. 75 Honduras at Vancouver's B.C. Place. The two sides last met during CONCACAF Nations League play in March, where Canada recorded a 4-1 victory. That doesn't mean much, though, said Canada head coach Jesse Marsch. 'We have to make sure that in no way we take anything for granted or assume we are better than anyone. We have to fight for everything on the pitch,' Marsch said. 'That has to be the first thing in our mentality for what this is going to take. And to earn the right to play the football that we think we can play, we have to be up for the challenge, up for the fight, and make sure that we are first when it comes to duels, when it comes to foot races, when it comes to physically being in the match.' Following Tuesday's game, the Canadians will shift to Houston to face No. 90 Curaçao on June 21 before wrapping Group B play against No. 81 El Salvador on June 24. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The winner and runner-up from each of the four groups advance to the knockout stage in the 16-team tournament. Canada is coming off a trophy-winning performance at the inaugural Canadian Shield last week, and is confident heading into the Gold Cup. 'I think we're the best team in the tournament,' said veteran forward Cyle Larin. 'Each game, we have to take it step by step. You never know in football what could happen. The first game against Honduras will be a good test to go out there and win.' The Canadian Shield ended with Canada falling to Ivory Coast in a penalty shootout after neither side scored in regulation. The team can't be as passive against Honduras if they want to have 'big ambition, big goals,' David said. 'It's just not sitting back, not letting the other team set the tempo for us, that we have to be on the front foot, we have to be the aggressors,' said the striker. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Marsch has named David captain for the tournament — a move the 25-year-old didn't initially agree with. 'We got on a call and (Marsch) told me 'I'm thinking of putting you captain.' At first, it was my maybe humble answer that I think there's maybe a couple of guys ahead of me,' David explained. 'But then, we kept talking a little bit more and I was like, 'OK.' This is also a challenge for me to also put myself a little bit more out there and help the team in different ways. So I see it as a challenge. And I'm ready for it.' For David, part of that challenge is finding his voice. 'I'm often more a chill, laid back guy that loves to play, loves to work hard on the pitch so I think people can feed off that,' he said. 'So the challenge for me is to be more vocal about saying more to the team and not be shy to speak my mind, even if it's wrong. And also to be open to have those conversations with teammates and not to be afraid.' This year's Gold Cup is taking place at several of the venues that will host the 2026 World Cup games — including B.C. Place. While the tournament is an opportunity to work toward next summer's ambitions, the Canadians are keeping their focus locked on what's directly ahead. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW That focus is what has helped the team achieve success in the past, Marsch said. 'We can talk about grander visions, but right now, we're solely focused on this match against Honduras and making sure that we know what they're going to challenge us with and that we're up for understanding the match,' he said. Canada has faced Honduras 28 times across all competitions, and Honduras holds a 12-9-7 record in those meetings. Heading into Tuesday's game, Marsch said he's expecting to come up against an aggressive opponent who will be defensively stingy and dangerous on set pieces. 'We think that this is the most important game of the tournament,' the coach said. 'Honduras is a very good team, and we know that if we can manage the first game in the right way, that we can set ourselves up for success.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2025.
Toronto Star
11 hours ago
- Toronto Star
Future of Sport in Canada Commission opens public survey ahead of summit
The Future of Sport in Canada Commission launched its public survey Monday to gather opinions on safe sport and improving the sport system ahead of its fall summit. Among the first questions posed: have you witnessed or experienced maltreatment in sport, and how big of a problem do you think maltreatment is in organized sport in Canada? Former Olympic skier Allison Forsyth, a founder of Generation Safe and now safe sport officer for Canada Soccer, says while she believes the commission is doing important work, some survey questions assume a level of experience with the national sport system. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Forsyth also asks if the person taking the survey knows the definition of maltreatment under the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport. 'When I'm out here doing my work, there's many people in this country at the grassroots level that don't even know what safe sport means,' Forsyth said. 'The questions in the survey are very good, but very specific. 'If it was sent to the public as their opportunity to contribute to the future of sport in Canada . . . it doesn't do enough to explain to people the foundation of safe sport, what maltreatment is, and what the universal code of conduct is.' The survey is open until August and can be accessed through the website or the commission's social media posts. Forsyth, an survivor of sexual abuse in sport herself, recently completed her International Olympic Committee certification as a Safeguarding Officer in Sport. She's also worked with provincial, university and club sport organizations in Canada, and wanted those levels to be more represented in the survey questions. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'My education and work is the people that matter the most, which is the children in sport at a grassroots level whose parents are entrusting their club to keep their child safe from maltreatment,' Forsyth said. 'If I was a parent, and I am one of high-level hockey players in the youth programs, would I know any of this? The answer, in my opinion, is no because the universal code of conduct to address maltreatment in sport points back to the federal level of sport.' The commission was the among various federal government remedies in response to a wave of maltreatment and abuse reports, both current and historical, that surfaced after the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing. Athletes spoke to parliamentary committees about mental, verbal, physical and sexual abuse, and their of retribution for reporting it. So the commission's two-part questionnaire released Monday 'invites Canadians to share their experiences and perspectives to help shape a safer, more inclusive and accountable sport environment across the country,' the commission said in a statement. 'Participation in the survey offers another opportunity for individuals to contribute to the national dialogue on improving safe sport in Canada and enhancing the overall sport system.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The public survey follows the commission's cross-country consultations in a dozen cities from October to January, when athletes, coaches, officials and sport organizations were invited to participate in writing, or via online submissions and surveys, if they couldn't in person. The options of speaking or writing to the commission closed Monday when the public survey was introduced. The commission headed by Lise Maisonneuve, a former Chief Justice of the Ontario Court of Justice, is expected to produce a preliminary report in August ahead of a two-session national summit Sept. 8-9 and Sept. 11-12 in Ottawa. Former sports minister Carla Qualtrough announced the commission in December, 2023, and the 2024 federal budget earmarked $10.6 million over two years for it to do its work. When Maisonneuve was appointed the commission's head May 9, 2024, the clock began ticking on its stated 18-month mandate to gather information, produce an initial report, hold a summit and provide final recommendations. Maisonneuve was granted an extension to March 31, 2026, for her final report. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2025.
Edmonton Journal
12 hours ago
- Edmonton Journal
'What a time to be alive': swaggering Florida Panthers hockey world sure of victory
Article content Said the fan who posted the coffin meme, David @David954FLA: 'Florida Panthers are one win away from winning the Stanley Cup. Tuesday can't come fast enough. What an opportunity.' Of course, not all Panthers fans and commentators were quite so swaggering in their optimism. Here are some. of the highlights of their social media commentary and podcast talk heading into Game 5 on Tuesday night, much of it heating up on after Florida's convincing 5-2 win over the Oilers, and one day before Father's Day: Panther Pourri: A Florida Hockey Now Podcast @PantherPourri The Panthers are the better team. There isn't anything surprising about this result. We'll see if Edmonton's desperation effort can force game 7. Commentator Cody Stevens, the Cats 'N' Rats podcast Edmonton just has not been good enough 5-on-5 in this series. Commentator T.J. Peterson, the Panther Pourri podcast I mean Games 1 and 2 happened and ever since then Edmonton has only looked like they are in this series when they've been in desperation mode — and that's it
