Four key takeaways from Canada's latest international window

Fresh off its historic run at this summer’s FIFA World Cup, the Canadian men’s team returned to action and put in a trio of respectable performances during the latest FIFA international window. 

Canada began with a pair of impressive shutout wins against South American opposition — 1-0 over Chile in Toronto and 2-0 vs. Peru in Montreal — before coming out on the wrong end of a disappointing 1-0 loss to the United States in St. Paul, Minn. on Tuesday. 

Les Rouges showed no signs of a hangover following their Round of 16 showing at the World Cup and managed to build up some much-needed momentum ahead of next month’s two-game, home-and-away playoff vs. Guatemala, when a berth in the 2027 Concacaf Nations League Finals is at stake. 

At the same time, Canadian coach Jesse Marsch sees room for improvement.

“My message to the team was that the performance [during this window] was good. It was like a seven and a half, maybe pushing toward an eight, right? But we still lack conviction and lack personality on the pitch and lack communication and control of all moments,” Marsch said after Tuesday’s defeat.

Here are four key takeaways from Canada during this international window. 

Jacob Shaffelburg’s star shines brightest for Canada 

Several Canadian players had their stocks go up at the conclusion of this three-game set. 

Centre back Luc de Fougerolles, still only 20, built upon his breakout showing at the World Cup with a trio of excellent performances that saw him anchor a Canadian defence that gave away very little. Nathan Saliba was solid in central midfield as he looked composed in not only launching attacks but also breaking them up. Niko Sigur was a defensive standout at right fullback while filling in for the injured Alistair Johnston. 

But it was Jacob Shaffelburg who was unquestionably Canada’s best performer during this trio of contests. The Nova Scotia-born winger started all three matches and gave an excellent account of himself, highlighted by his brace against Chile, the second of his international career, to take his tally up to eight goals for Canada. 

Shaffelburg saw action in all five games at the World Cup, but they all came off the bench. The wily left winger made a strong case for himself to be a starter after this window – he was routinely Canada’s most dangerous and dynamic attacker and the team’s best moment in attack more often than not flowed through him. 

Against Peru and the U.S., Shaffelburg effectively worked in tandem with right winger Liam Millar — it was Millar who assisted on both of his goals — offering Canada a dangerous presence simultaneously down both flanks. 

Lack of finishing still a concern for Canada 

Two wins from three games was a very good end result for Canada. Still, a third victory was there for the taking against the U.S as the Canadians carved out a number of scoring chances, only to be let down by a lack of finishing in front of goal.  

Tani Oluwaseyi had one dangerous look on goal that he failed to convert. Other than that, he was a non-factor against the Americans. The same could be said of Jonathan David, the team’s all-time top scorer, who failed to get into dangerous scoring positions.  

With the exception of Luc de Fougerolles’ volley off the crossbar, Canada’s looked bereft of ideas and creativity on set pieces. Promise David squandered a glorious opportunity to head home an equalizer in the second half off an excellent whipped-in ball to the near post from fellow substitute Daniel Jebbison. 

While Jesse Marsh credited the U.S.’s bend-but-don’t-break defence, he also felt Canada had to do a much better job of capitalizing on turnovers and on its moments in transition 

“We just didn't turn our good play and our organization into enough chances and into goals," Jesse Marsch lamented. 

Even in the victories against Chile and Peru, Canada could have inflicted more damage and won more comfortably but weren’t as clinical in front of goal as they should have been. 

Those performances and Tuesday’s loss will serve as a valuable lesson for Canada who can’t afford to be as wasteful in next month’s Concacaf Nations League qualifiers and when the next round of World Cup qualifying kicks off.   

Jesse Marsch continues to expand the player pool 

Jesse Marsch wasn’t shy about testing youngsters during this international window as he handed national team debuts to five players: goalkeeper Owen Goodman; defenders Richard Chukwu and Jovan Ivanišević, fullback Luca Petrasso; and midfielder Justin Smith. 

Marsch also gave opportunities and valuable playing time to promising prospects who have been on the fringes of the first 11: centre backs Ralph Priso and Jamie Knight-Lebel; and forwards Jacen Russell-Rowe and Jebbison. 

All of them showed well for Canada during this window, in particular Chukwu who barely put a foot wrong against Peru when he made his first start in only his second appearance for Canada. Jebbison (nine caps) had one of his best outings for Canada and collected his first assist vs. Peru, while Priso (six caps) was solid in the middle of the defence for three games next to fellow youngster Luc de Fougerolles.  

A rash of injuries and other absences made it easier for Marsch to show so much faith in players with little to no international experience. Still, Marsch should be commended for using these games to expand the national team player pool – having more options at his disposal will pay off when Canada has to compete in major tournaments in the future and begin a new qualifying cycle for the 2030 FIFA World Cup. 

“There's always going to be new players integrated within the team, younger players integrated with the team, and I think Richard [Chukwu] has done very well this week. Jovan [Ivanišević] has also done very well this week,” winger Liam Millar said after the Peru win. 

“I can name more new players this week, but I think those two in particular have done very well, and I'm excited to see what they have to bring in the future.” 

No. 1 goalkeeper spot up for grabs again 

Maxime Crépeau beat out Dayne St. Clair in a lengthy, tightly contested battle to win the starting goalkeeper role for Canada at this summer’s World Cup. But Crépeau’s grip on the No. 1 role isn’t as firm as it used to be after this latest FIFA window. 

Crépeau sat out these three games due to his father recently passing away, which opened the door for St. Clair to start against Chile and the United States. Third-string goalkeeper Owen Goodman earned his first cap in the win over Peru. Both goalkeepers looked solid in their appearances — Goodman didn’t have to make a save, but he displayed great command of his penalty area and was quite astute in his distribution.  

Jesse Marsch was asked prior to the Peru game if he still considered Crépeau his No. 1 choice, confirming that was the case, but also suggesting it’s not set in stone. 

“Max has done a lot to earn the number one spot, so I would probably lean towards saying yes, but I think that Dayne is still competing for that spot and to show that he’s ready for it, as well as Owen,” Marsch said. 

An unused member of Canada's World Cup team this summer, Goodman was born in England but completed his Canadian citizenship and took his oath last year. He joined Crystal Palace's youth academy as a teenager before signing with the first team in 2021. He's gone out on loan several times since then and is currently loaned out to Dundee F.C. in Scotland.  

If Goodman continues to get steady minutes at club level, then a legitimate three-way competition for the starting role with Canada could soon develop and force Marsch into making another tough decision about who’ll be No. 1.