"We want that pressure" - Popovic savours Socceroo challenge to Canada party
Jesse Marsch wants Canada to “put on a show” for a partisan home crowd in Montreal on Friday evening. Socceroo boss Tony Popovic, though, believes “the more parochial the crowd, the better for us.”
MONTREAL, Canada – After an eight-year absence from Quebec, Canadian men’s coach Jesse Marsch wants his side to “put on a show” for a partisan home crowd in Montreal on Friday evening. Socceroo boss Tony Popovic, however, believes “the more parochial the crowd, the better for us,” and will be happy to test the less experienced members of his squad in a Canadian crucible.
Canada will welcome the Socceroos to the Stade Saputo, the home of MLS side CF Montréal, on Friday evening — the first time the nation’s men have played in the Quebeci capital since they defeated Curaçao 2:1 eight years ago, in a game which also featured the international debut of now Bayern Munich flanker Alphonso Davies.
Though Montreal will not host fixtures or training bases during next year’s tournament, the Canadian federation announced on Thursday morning venue, which is listed as having a capacity of 19,619, had sold out, and that fans were encouraged to wear red to the contest to add to the atmosphere and sense of hostility.
But the chance to test his side against and, potentially, silence a partisan home crowd is one that Popovic welcomes.
“The more parochial the crowd, the better for us,” Popovic told JDL Media. “We want to experience all the different aspects of a game leading into the World Cup… It’s why we’re delighted to have Canada and the US in this window. It’s a beautiful little stadium. The pitch is great. And it will be full of red. We want that pressure. We want that side that really expects to beat us.
“We’re confident that we can win the game. It’s just something that we’re really looking forward to. It’s part of the preparation. It’s a chance for new boys to show us what they can do under this pressure and to see how we deal with it, and see what problems we can give them. Another lesson and growing, I’m sure, towards the World Cup.”
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Some of the “new boys” that could be put to the test include potential debutant Jacob Italiano, young striker Mohamed Touré, and midfielder Alex Robertson – the latter returning to the national setup for the first time in two years after ending a period of self-imposed unavailability.
In all, 14 members of the 25-strong squad — all of whom were full participants in training on Thursday night — have ten caps or fewer. But Popovic said he would have no qualms about fielding any members of his unit if they merited it.
“That’s why they’re here,” said the coach. “Anyone who’s been selected has an opportunity to play. When we’ve got 25 instead of the 23 [squad members], it always gives you a little bit of flexibility in terms of looking at players and who you can give an opportunity to.
“They’re here and, in our minds, they can all play. Then it’s really up to them in terms of how they train. I’ve always said this: some players grasp it very quickly and look like they’ve always been with the Socceroos, and some boys need some time.
“But that’s not against that player. It’s just that it needs time to grow and feel comfortable in this environment. So tomorrow we’ll see how we go, but I’m confident that we’ll put on a very good performance.”
Beyond that looming home World Cup, excitement for the fixture in Montreal has also been boosted in Canada by their side’s rise to a record-high 26 in the latest FIFA rankings – just one place behind Australia.
This was in large part thanks to their wins over Romania and Wales during the September window, victories that stretched their winning run over European sides to a record three.
“From what I’ve heard, if we had twice as big a stadium, or maybe if we played in the Olympic Stadium [capacity 56,040], it might sell out,” Marsch told media on Thursday. “So that’s really exciting to hear.
“I know this is a football town, and I think there’s an appreciation for not only the fact that the World Cup is so close but that this team is good.
“Our focus is always on trying to get the maximum out of our potential every time we’re together. And I always credit the character of our men and the way that they train, the way that they come into the national team and the pride they have in wearing the jersey. We’re really excited that there’s a lot of energy right now behind the team.
“We want to put on a show. We want to play our football, but we want to score goals. We want to be entertaining. We want to get this country excited about next summer.”
However, Marsch did acknowledge that, while his side would look to attack and excite the crowd, that would be easier said than done against a unit that has become adept at soaking up pressure and denying clear looks on goal since Popovic’s arrival just over a year ago.
The Canada boss was also dealt a blow on the eve of the window when central defender Moïse Bombito, who had only just returned from a six-month layoff in September, suffered a fractured tibia while playing for French outfit Nice, with 19-year-old Luc De Fougerolles likely to fill the gap.
Combined with the ongoing absence of Davies and Alistair Johnston, it means that Marsch will be without three-quarters of his first-choice backline against the Socceroos, with Toronto FC’s Richie Laryea and Hajduk Split’s Niko Sigur being tapped by local media as the most likely replacements on the flanks.
“First of all, I think [the Socceroos are] a very stingy team, very organised defensively, very aggressive, good on set pieces,” Marsch said of Australia. “[It’s a team that] doesn’t give much away, [are] committed as a group to be organised, to be aggressive. So this will not be an easy match for us.
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“And even when we say, put on a show, they don’t give up many goals, right? So we know, we know that that part of the game will be difficult.
“Certainly, the hallmark of who we are is to always make it difficult on the opponent: to press, to counter-press, to eliminate space. One of the things they have is real size and physical presence, and one of the things we have is speed and power, right?
“So I think both teams will be trying to manage things a little bit. [Canada will work] so that they can’t [get] themselves into the game by putting balls into our box and by having lots of set pieces. They have guys who can take throw-ins that are like 70 yards long, and they can be a real threat in the box.
“And we’re going to try to now make sure that we make the game fast, that we press them, that we make them uncomfortable, and that we can use open space to our advantage.
“So I think it’s a little bit of a clash of styles, other than both teams are very organised and very committed to making it difficult on the opponent.”