Is essentially the most attention-grabbing supervisor on the Gold Cup the one who hasn’t even appeared but?
Jesse Marsch, the American in control of Canada’s males’s nationwide crew, is at present serving a two-game suspension. He missed out Tuesday’s opener in opposition to Honduras in Vancouver (watching the 6-0 win from afar in a set at BC Place) and also will sit out Saturday’s Group B sport vs Curaçao in Houston.
On Wednesday, Concacaf stated it could be additional investigating Marsch for rules violations and using offensive language throughout Tuesday’s sport — though he wasn’t even teaching.
It solely provides one other layer of intrigue for a supervisor that FOX Sports activities analyst Alexi Lalas described as “massive, daring and conceited” this week on his “State of the Union” podcast?
So, who’s Jesse Marsch and why has he turn into some of the hot-topic figures on the Gold Cup? Lets’s dive in:
Why Is Marsch Suspended?
Marsch’s suspension dates again to March. He acquired a purple card in the course of the Concacaf Nations League third-place match in opposition to the U.S. for berating the referee after which refusing to go away the pitch. His authentic one‑sport ban was elevated to 2 after Concacaf’s disciplinary committee dominated his conduct was “unacceptable.”
However with Wednesday’s announcement of a recent investigation into Marsch, it might result in additional disciplinary motion. As of now, Marsch will return for Canada’s group stage finale in opposition to El Salvador on June 24 in Houston.
And after the Canadians’ assertion win over Honduras, this crew may be very a lot residing as much as expectations of being a match favourite and profitable the title for the primary time since 2000.
Jesse Marsch argues in the course of the Nations League third-place match between United States and Canada in March. (Photograph by Eliecer Aizprua Banfield/Jam Media/Getty Pictures)
Was Marsch ever a U.S. males’s coach candidate?
Sure, he was. Marsch made a splash teaching in Europe with Austrian membership FC Salzburg from 2019-2021 after which had a brief stint at Germany’s RB Leipzig earlier than getting fired from Leeds United in 2023.
Marsch interviewed for the U.S. males’s crew job in 2023, however U.S. Soccer rehired Gregg Berhalter. Marsch was candid about that call, saying afterward that he “wasn’t handled very effectively within the course of.”
As a substitute, he was employed to take over Canada’s crew forward of the 2024 Copa America, and led the crew to a shock run to the semifinals the place it misplaced to eventual champion Argentina. However the feud between Marsch and U.S. Soccer has solely elevated since then.
What has Marsch stated concerning the U.S. males’s crew?
Marsch has taken some digs on the U.S. males’s crew since turning into Canada’s coach. After the U.S. was eradicated within the group stage on the 2024 Copa America, Marsch was fairly candid concerning the crew he as soon as represented as a participant.
“I am dissatisfied with the performances, the shortage of self-discipline. There are a whole lot of issues that I believe we have tried to embody concerning the sport within the U.S., and we have all the time believed in these group of gamers,” Marsch stated final summer time. “I am not there daily, so I haven’t got my finger on the heartbeat of what is going on on, but it surely’s definitely not what we anticipated coming into [the Copa America].”
Forward of this version Gold Cup, there was discuss whether or not Marsch would take into account the U.S. males’s job ought to Mauricio Pochettino go away the put up – particularly forward of the 2026 World Cup.
“I need to make it clear – I don’t care concerning the U.S. crew, and I by no means need to coach the U.S. nationwide crew. I’m making that clear proper now,” Marsch stated.
With Canada additionally being a co-host for 2026 World Cup, count on Marsch to nonetheless be concerned if the crew continues to stay as much as its expectations.
Marsch vs. Pochettino: Ought to we count on a U.S.-Canada conflict on the Gold Cup?
If the U.S. and Canada advance to the knockout rounds – each groups are in command of their respective teams – they might sq. up at one of many semifinal video games on July 2.
That might make for a tantalizing matchup between Marsch and Pochettino. These two coaches have already confronted one another in March – the 2-1 win for Canada within the Concacaf Nations League third-place match that acquired Marsch suspended within the first place – so count on some fireworks if the 2 groups meet.
Canada has not gained this match since 2000, so count on for Marsch to be additional motivated if the U.S. stand in his approach of the title. In spite of everything, Canada has probably the greatest squads within the match (though Alphonso Davies is out with an damage). That is one thing Marsch made clear when he talked concerning the U.S. squad, which is lacking gamers like Christian Pulisic.
“Not one man referred to as me and stated, ‘Coach, I do not know, it has been an extended yr, perhaps I do not come to the Gold Cup.’ Not one man,” Marsch stated earlier this month. “Not even near that dialog.”
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