Minutes after Stephen Eustaquio\u2019s winner in the second minute of stoppage time<\/a> sent Canada through to the last-16 at the expense of South Africa<\/a>, Marsch gathered his 26 players and backroom staff in a small circle on the pitch. Adorned in a Team Canada sweater \u2013 with a flag the American would later kiss in celebration \u2013 Marsch told his team that they had become \u201cCanadian heroes\u201d after a first-ever World Cup<\/a> knockout win. <\/p>\n “Guys, think about the two years we’ve been together,\u201d he said, with a well-placed camera and microphone picking up every word. \u201cThink about how we talked about sticking to the plan, sticking to who we want to be, playing aggressive, you guys showing your character.<\/p>\n “You guys are 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.”<\/p>\n It was Marsch-ism at his finest; something out of an \u201cAll or Nothing\u201d documentary in real-time. Like him or loathe him, the former Leeds man is a coach who truly believes in the power of unity, passion and togetherness beyond any spiel of footballing tactics or formations. And questioned about the speech in his post-match press conference, Marsch had a message for the naysayers. <\/p>\n \u201cLook, people like to say it\u2019s performative to meet on the pitch,\u201d he said. It should be noted that the journalist in question did not describe the moment as \u201cperformative\u201d, but Marsch is seemingly aware of the sense of theatrics \u2013 maybe even cringe status \u2013 surrounding his form of management. Spoiler alert: he doesn\u2019t care. <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t give a s*** what people have to say. All I care about is our own team and what we do together.\u201d <\/p>\n There you have it. And if curious as to why Marsch couldn\u2019t save such a moment for the privacy of the dressing room, he had a reason for that, too. \u201cIt\u2019s hard because after the game, everybody gets pulled away in a million different directions by the media and so you don\u2019t really have a chance to be with your team unless you take that moment right there.<\/p>\n \u201cI always try to get the leaders to speak because, again, they\u2019re Canadian. This is their national team but I wanted to voice to them how important a moment this will prove to be for the sport in the country\u2026 it\u2019s a pleasure to be their coach and the responsibility I feel to them specifically is what motivates me every day to try to prepare and create a platform for them to be their greatest. I think they did that today.\u201d<\/p>\n It is a fascinating North American partnership at a time when political volatility between Canada and the United States remains somewhat tense beneath the surface. Arm-in-arm with his staff, Marsch sang the Canadian national anthem, O Canada, before the match in Los Angeles. A former US assistant coach, hailing from Wisconsin, Marsch has often been accused of fake patriotism. <\/p>\n Another spoiler alert: again, he doesn\u2019t care. In fact, he doesn\u2019t agree, as he vocalised in a passionate defence. <\/p>\n \u201cLook, 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,\u201d he said. \u201cThey 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. <\/p>\n \u201cAnd sometimes I know that Americans\u2026 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. <\/p>\n \u201cBut again, I don’t give a s***.\u201d <\/p>\n In many ways, Marsch\u2019s unrepentant philosophy is to be commended. Foreign-born managers are often accused of not empathising with the national team they coach. The 52-year-old\u2019s unbridled passion for his team and a country is undisputed and a massive factor in Canada\u2019s run to the last-16, where they will face the Netherlands or Morocco in Houston on Saturday. <\/p>\n Marsch has a softer, mentor-esque side, too, speaking so eloquently about Eustaquio\u2019s deserving moment in the spotlight. The Canadian match-winner tragically lost his mother, Esmeralda, to brain cancer in April 2023 and his father, Armando, a year later to a heart attack. <\/p>\n \u201cSteph is one of the people in the team that I think is the most reliable and understands what we’re trying to achieve as a group,\u201d he said. \u201cObviously, with everything that he’s been through with his parents passing away. <\/p>\n \u201cHe and his brother are really close and really tight. I couldn’t think of a more deserving human being in a group of incredible human beings. Maybe Steph is the most deserving to have a moment like that. I’m really happy for him \u2013 and I think from somewhere his parents are looking down and they saw that.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Jesse](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2283753302...jpeg\")
Jesse Marsch kissed the Canada badge after their dramatic win over South Africa (Getty)<\/p>\n![\"Jesse](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2283752733...jpeg\")
Jesse Marsch spoke to his players on the pitch after Canada’s win over South Africa (Getty)<\/p>\n![\"Marsch,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2283742243...jpeg\")
Marsch, 52, defended speaking to the players on the pitch (Getty)<\/p>\n![\"Canada](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2283752154...jpeg\")
Canada will face the Netherlands or Morocco in the last-16 (Getty)<\/p>\n