One year ago at BMO Field in Toronto, Canada’s men’s national team finished a season to forget with a disappointing loss to Jamaica and a shocking exit from the Nations League quarterfinals.
But with a new coach, an all-encompassing playing style and plenty of new additions to the player pool, much has changed for the better. And that much was evident one year later as a revamped Canada side made no mistake in this year’s Nations League quarterfinal, finishing off Suriname with a convincing 3-0 win. The 4-0 aggregate win sends Canada back to the Nations League Finals during the next international window in March 2025.
Goals from Jonathan David — his program-leading 31st goal — and two more from Jacob Shaffelburg were enough to topple a Suriname team that barely put up a fight.
JACOB SHAFFELBURG IS A BALLER 🌟
That’s a brace for the kid from Nova Scotia. #CANMNT 🇨🇦pic.twitter.com/bAFz0Os0zB
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 20, 2024
Canada can take pride in a consistent performance but leaves knowing there are sterner tests ahead of them. The team will next play in the Nations League beginning March 20.
Advancing to the Nations League Finals means Canada has qualified for the 2025 Gold Cup.
Canada responds to Marsch’s demands
Coach Jesse Marsch set a serious tone ahead of the game, demanding more out of his players after an unconvincing but necessary win in the first leg. He demanded an “aggressive” approach and behind the scenes, directed players to be far more purposeful in their movements.
A clear positive from the second leg is that, quite simply, his team responded.
Canada’s movement in the final third was more dynamic and creative compared to the first leg. The hosts had far more jump in their step, seeming to take Marsch’s desire to attack the game early to heart. Set pieces were taken quickly as Canada looked intent on righting the wrongs of leg one, where their set pieces left something to be desired.
David’s 23rd-minute goal felt inevitable. It marked Canada’s tenth under Marsch and David has been involved in eight of them. The goal didn’t come directly off a set piece, but it wasn’t long after a corner either. Considering Canada maintained possession after a corner and ended up finding the back of the net? That’s a source of promise.
Shaffelburg’s goal six minutes later might have largely been a solo effort, but it was still a result of everything Marsch wants in this team: verticality, pressing and purposeful movements. Shaffelburg chasing down a long Moise Bombito pass and deftly pushing it past Suriname’s Etienne Vaessen was pure Maritime Messi: relentless and full of swagger. Shaffelburg added a tap-in goal from a slick Cyle Larin pass in the 67th minute.
By the end of the first half, Canada had another goal disallowed and had effectively put the game to bed.
You can chalk up some of the results on the night to a dreadful performance from Suriname. The gulf in quality was as wide as the distance between the two nations. But nevertheless, for Canada to stomp on the visitors, as directed, was the kind of confidence-building performance this group needs.
There’s been a feeling inside the Canadian side that they’ve been lacking a truly convincing performance lately, instead of waiting too long to put games away. Moving with purpose and pace and clear finishing ability allows this group to feel like they’re trending in the right direction with a five-month layoff incoming.
Shaffelburg keeps scoring — what comes next?
After two goals against Suriname and a breakout year for Canada, what comes next for Shaffelburg? The winger has proven he can be a valuable contributor in a pressing system that requires him to move with ceaseless energy. This year, very few players elevated their game for Canada like Shaffelburg.
“It’s definitely a spot to get more eyes on you,” Shaffelburg said of playing for Canada. “But it helps to have the guys on this team. We have a lot of big-name players so you know everyone is going to be watching.”
JACOB SHAFFELBURG IS HIM! 😤@CANMNT_Official is off and running. 🇨🇦pic.twitter.com/j0eyWkFqNc
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 20, 2024
The technical side of Sahffelburg’s game is still a work in progress, sure. But there’s enough of a base in his skill set to suggest a move away from MLS isn’t far-fetched.
Shaffelburg’s current contract expires in two years. His stock has never been higher. Shaffelburg also switched agents recently. Could a winter move be incoming?
“I’m at the point where if the right opportunity comes up, of course, I would take it,” Shaffelburg said.
St. Clair the new No. 1?
One of Canada’s unquestioned stars of a wildly surprising Copa America run was goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau. The 30-year-old has long been the starter-in-waiting. His ability to command Canada’s back line, read the play and provide shot-stopping when necessary made for a terrific story too: Crepeau was likely ready to challenge longtime keeper Milan Borjan for the starting spot at the 2022 World Cup, but suffered a devastating injury just before heading to Qatar.
Yet as soon as Crepeau was elevated to the starting job, he might have lost the job just as quickly.
Dayne St. Clair started both legs against Suriname. The Minnesota United goalkeeper brings a more athletic approach to the position and has four inches of size and longer reach than Crepeau as well. After two starts in a row — and no goals allowed — does that mean he’s now in the pole position for the starter’s job?
“It’s the best situation we’ve ever been in,” St. Clair told The Athletic of the relationship between him and Crepeau. “We support each other well. Obviously, it’s a tricky situation. Jesse told us it’s going to be a battle. Just because one guy plays one game, it doesn’t mean the battle is over.”
Suriname only put up one shot on target in the second leg. But with Canada playing a high back line, an aggressive goalkeeper like St. Clair is necessary. He looked up for the task on a chilly evening by the water in Toronto.
Knight-Lebel’s debut makes seven for Marsch
Marsch called up three newcomers during the October international window. Dual national center back Jamie Knight-Lebel was the only one who got another call up a month later. The 18-year-old made his debut for Canada against Suriname, entering in the 73rd minute. Marsch has one eye on the future when it comes to Knight-Lebel. Center back remains an area of weakness for Canada as there’s a concerning lack of depth in the position. Knight-Lebel provides sturdy, reliable play and his debut suggests he might be part of Marsch’s long-term plans.
Knight-Lebel became the seventh player to make his debut for Canada since Marsch took over as Canada’s coach in May. Niko Sigur, Tani Oluwaseyi, Zorhan Bassong, Nathan Saliba, Kwasi Poku and Stephen Afrifa were the others.
Marsch’s injection of youth into this squad has been long overdue.
Required reading
(Photo: John E. Sokolowski / Imagn Images)
