Canada soundly beaten by the Netherlands in Jesse Marsch's debut as Canadian coach
Canada soundly beaten by the Netherlands in Jesse Marsch's debut as Canadian coach
Jeremie Frimpong scored a goal and set up another as the Netherlands showed its class, blanking Canada 4-0 Thursday to spoil Jesse Marsch's debut as Canadian men's soccer coach.
The Netherlands defeated Canada 4-0 in a soccer friendly, with three of the goals scored in a 13-minute span during the second half. Jesse Marsch made his debut as Canada's head coach. The goals were scored by:
- Memphis Depay (50th minute)
- Jeremie Frimpong (57th minute)
- Wout Weghorst (63rd minute)
- Virgil van Dijk (83rd minute)
Canada started strong but struggled as the match progressed, with the Dutch dominating possession (61%) and outshooting Canada 20-6 (11-2 in shots on target). Alphonso Davies, making his debut as captain, played a key role but faced challenges defensively.
The Canadian lineup featured several changes from their last match and had an average age of 25. Despite the loss, Marsch emphasized that playing against top-tier teams like the Netherlands and France, whom they face next, is crucial for the team's growth and preparation for the 2026 World Cup.
Key defensive plays in the first half by Eustaquio, Johnston, and Cornelius prevented early Dutch goals, and a close shot by Larin marked Canada's best offensive effort. Canada is preparing for its Copa America campaign, while the Netherlands and France are gearing up for Euro 2024.