Latest news with #Marsch
Morocco World
2 days ago
- Sport
- Morocco World
Canada vs Ukraine: When and How to Watch Friendly Game
Meknes – Canada hosts Ukraine today at BMO Field in Toronto in the Canadian Shield friendly tournament's first match, giving Canada a chance to build momentum and find squad chemistry ahead of June's CONCACAF Gold Cup. For Ukraine, the game is a chance to prepare for the 2026 World Cup qualifying. Kick-off is set for 8:00 p.m. GMT+1, and football fans can watch the game live on TSN, OneSoccer, beIN SPORTS, and stream on Canada Soccer's official YouTube channel Canada's head coach Jesse Marsch has been focusing on keeping players in top form and ensuring the team has enough strong options before the CONCACAF Gold Cup. 'We are excited for two competitive matches on home soil in front of Canadian crowds,' he said after naming his 23-player squad for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. With captain Alphonso Davies injured, Marsch will depend on veterans like Jonathan Osorio and emerging talents such as Jonathan David to provide a creative spark. ' Every competitive match from now until the World Cup will be critical to get our team the preparation it needs ahead of welcoming the world next year,' said Marsch. Ukraine arrives under the direction of Serhiy Rebrov, drawing on professionals from top European leagues. Andriy Shevchenko, president of the Ukrainian Association of Football, pointed out the significance of playing in Canada: 'The Ukrainian community in Canada has always supported our national team worldwide, and now it is our turn to visit them.' Key match-ups players to watch: Canada's young midfielders, led by Stephen Eustáquio, against Ukraine's physical edge and counterattacking speed, and Jonathan David's finishing versus Ukraine's backline with veterans like Oleksandr Zinchenko. Both teams will use this fixture to fine-tune tactics for upcoming competitions. Predicted lineups Canada (4-2-3-1) : Dayne St. Clair, Richie Laryea, Amaan Fougerolles, Derek Cornelius, Sam Adekugbe, Ismael Kone, Taylor Choinière, Ali Ahmed, Jonathan David, Tajon Buchanan, Tani Oluwaseyi Ukraine (3-4-2-1) Anatoliy Lunin, Oleksandr Zabarnyi ,Artem Bondar, Ivan Matviyenko, Mykola Mykhaylenko, Kyrylo Kalyuzhny, Nazar Nazaryna, Yevhen Myrhorodskyi, Mykola Hutsulyak, Mykhailo Sudakov, Roman Yaremchuk Verdict: Ukraine 3–1 Canada Tags: African footballCanada
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Vancouver Whitecaps players fall ill after Mexico final; Canada coach suggests possible poisoning
Canada's men's national soccer team coach, Jesse Marsch , was outraged on Friday, June 6, that Vancouver Whitecaps players had been "poisoned" during their trip to Mexico for the CONCACAF Champions Cup final. Earlier, the Whitecaps released a statement on Thursday indicating that approximately half of the 75 individuals who returned to Vancouver on the team's charter plane after Sunday's game reported experiencing symptoms of a gastrointestinal illness . He addressed the issue and said that the team is monitoring the players' conditions and considering necessary adjustments. 'We're still in the evaluation phase,' Marsch said during a press conference. 'We know some players have been sick after the trip to Mexico. We're trying to gather information and ensure everyone is ready, but health comes first.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The price of dental implants may surprise you Dental Implants | Search Ads Search Now Undo Marsch admitted that he had no evidence of poisoning but added that, "It's not random that two years in a row that this has happened." Vancouver arrived in Mexico City last Friday and faced a heavy defeat, losing 5-0 to Cruz Azul in the final of CONCACAF's elite club competition on Sunday. The players reportedly began experiencing symptoms of gastrointestinal illness shortly after returning from the match. Live Events The exact cause of the illness has not been publicly confirmed, but the timeline suggests a likely link to their stay or travel conditions. While no specific number of affected players has been disclosed, multiple members of the squad were said to be unwell. The timing of the outbreak has raised concerns for Canada's national squad ahead of their World Cup qualifiers. Some of the Whitecaps players are regulars or contenders for national team call-ups, and their illness could affect Marsch's lineup plans. The coach highlighted that we have contingency strategies in place. Marsch added that we have a larger player pool to work with. However, we need to be mindful of recovery timelines and don't want to rush anyone too soon. This incident has prompted discussions around travel protocols and food safety for players traveling internationally. Teams often face different hygiene standards when playing abroad, especially in countries with varying water quality or food handling practices. Experts point out that gastrointestinal illnesses are not uncommon in high-travel sports environments. 'It's part of the risk when you travel, especially for international tournaments,' said a former national team nutritionist, who noted that strict controls over food and water intake are typically recommended. The Vancouver Whitecaps have not issued an official statement detailing the extent of the illness but confirmed that health precautions were being followed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
New international soccer tournament coming to Toronto ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup
Four countries are bringing their national soccer teams to Toronto this weekend for the final major tournament the city will host before it takes on several World Cup games next year. The Canadian Shield Tournament kicks off at BMO Field on Saturday and features four national men's soccer teams — Canada, Ukraine, New Zealand and Ivory Coast. The tournament is meant to prepare the teams for next year's FIFA World Cup, according to Canada Soccer. Canada's head coach Jesse Marsch said his team is excited for the challenge that comes with taking on these strong opponents. "It's a chance for all of us to competitively make sure that our teams are making steps forward and it will be, I think, a great experience for the fans [in] anticipation of what the World Cup will be next summer," Marsch said at a news conference on Friday. Canada's team is also set to receive a new addition, as Toronto FC's captain Jonathan Osorio will be joining their roster, according to a Canada Soccer news release Thursday. The inaugural match takes place Saturday at 3:30 p.m., with Canada facing off against Ukraine. The second match of the day will be played between New Zealand and Ivory Coast. The rest of the matches will take place on Tuesday. "We are fixed now on the very difficult match we have tomorrow, but looking ahead to Tuesday, we know that we will need to use a real breadth of our squad for both matches because both will be physically demanding and also tactically demanding," Marsch said. The tournament is a chance for soccer fans to watch some of the best players from around the world battle it out, but it's also an opportunity for the city to show its ability to run a major tournament — and manage any potential challenges that may come with it — before hosting six World Cup games next year. Fans attending this weekend's matches will get an early look at the almost $150-million upgrade BMO Field is set to receive ahead of the World Cup. Upgrades are already underway, and will ultimately include new video boards, luxury boxes and a rooftop patio. Temporary seating is also being added, increasing the stadium's capacity from close to 30,000 to 45,000, and bringing it up to FIFA World Cup standards. The current phase of renovations ends in August, with the second phase beginning in December and ending ahead of the first World Cup match next June. The city, which owns the field, and Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment, which manages it, are spending $123 million and $23 million respectively on the renovations. In 2022, FIFA awarded Toronto the right to host five first round games plus one playoff round match for the 2026 tournament. However, the city originally anticipated it would host just five World Cup matches, at an estimated cost of $300 million. The cost has since climbed to $380 million, about $200 million of which is being provided by the federal and provincial governments. Now the city is clamping down on FIFA spending unless it can find savings on its hosting duties or secure more money from other levels of government. WATCH | City, province in funding dispute as Toronto preps for 2026 World Cup: Last month, city councillors said they will hold off on major procurements or any large contracts that would push the cost over $340 million. Mayor Olivia Chow has said that's meant to address a $40-million shortfall created because a substantial amount of funding pledged by the province will be used up for various services, not all of which the city needs. The provincial government has said its total investment of $97 million remains unchanged, but Premier Doug Ford said Friday that the province will sit down with the city to discuss what can be done. "I looked at the numbers just briefly, but the security's pretty heavy there. The numbers I saw — like, it's massive. That's taking a big chunk out of it. So let's take a look at it," he said at a news conference on Friday.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cruz Azul hit back at Marsch over Whitecaps 'poisoning' allegations
A Cruz Azul spokesperson has hit out at Canada head coach Jesse Marsch after the former Leeds United boss claimed some of the Vancouver Whitecaps players were 'poisoned' ahead of the Concacaf Champions Cup final last weekend. On Thursday, the Whitecaps said in a statement that a 'significant number' of players and staff had fallen ill upon the team's return to Canada, days after being thumped by Cruz Azul 5-0 in the final. Advertisement Last season, the Columbus Crew reported a similar incident after losing 3-0 in the final to Liga MX side Pachuca. On Friday, Jesse Marsch had his say on the incident after some of Whitecaps players reported for international duty, ruffling some feathers in Mexico in the process. 'It's for me, appalling that this is the second year in a row that Concacaf and the powers that be have allowed an MLS team to go down to Mexico for a big final and get poisoned,' Marsch said. 'It's ridiculous. Something has to be done to protect these environments. 'Look, in the past when you would go down there, I remember being with the U.S. national team and club teams going down to Mexico, it was 'will the fire alarm be pulled in the middle of the night? Will there be dancing and singing?' And those are somewhat spirited, competitive advantages that are created when you go down to Mexico. But poisoning the team is another, is another version." Advertisement According to the Athletic, a spokesperson for Cruz Azul has labeled Marsch's comments as "out of line", and nothing more than "damage control." Canada are set to face off with Ukraine on Saturday in an international friendly. 📸 Sarah Stier - 2024 Getty Images
San Francisco Chronicle
2 days ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
3 Canadian national team players among the Whitecaps stricken by illness
Three Canadian national team players were among those who fell ill following the Vancouver Whitecaps' appearance in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final last weekend in Mexico City. The Whitecaps said a "significant number" of players and staff had a gastrointestinal illness. Three of them — Ali Ahmed, Sam Adekugbe and Jayden Nelson — were ill when they arrived at Canada's training camp in Halifax ahead of Saturday's Canadian Shield match against Ukraine, coach Jesse Marsch said Friday. 'They're better now,' Marsch said. 'They're probably not ready for 90-minute performances." The trio practiced with the national team Friday in preparation for the match at Toronto's BMO Field. Canada also plays Ivory Coast on Tuesday as it readies for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Marsch, who said it was his understanding that the players had food poisoning, questioned how it could happen two years in a row. Last year, Columbus Crew players fell ill while playing in the CONCACAF Champions Cup final in Mexico against Pachuca. "If I were the Vancouver Whitecaps, if I was the Columbus Crew, if I was MLS, I would be angry. I would be absolutely angry that this had been allowed to happen,' he said. The Whitecaps were forced to cancel practice Wednesday and had a modified session for cleared players Thursday after both players and staff reported the gastrointestinal symptoms. It appeared many players had returned Friday. 'The health and well-being of our players and staff remain a top priority. Each player has been provided with an individualized program by the medical and performance staff to support their continued preparation and recovery,' the Whitecaps said in a statement. Whitecaps sporting director Axel Schuster told reporters that about half of the 75 people who returned to Canada via charter following the game reported symptoms. The Whitecaps lost 5-0 to Liga MX team Cruz Azul in the tournament's championship game Sunday night in Mexico City. The Whitecaps were scheduled to play the Seattle Sounders in a Cascadia Cup rivalry match at BC Place on Sunday. Nine players were already going to be missing because of national team duty, including Ahmed, Adekugbe and Nelson. Schuster said the Whitecaps have been in contact with the league about whether the team would have enough players for the game. "If we have enough healthy and fit players available, we want to play it, of course,' Schuster said. 'No one ever wants not to play a game if he thinks he has a group together that is ready to compete in this game.' ___
