Jesse Marsch Hasn’t Coached at Gold Cup But — He is Nonetheless the Discuss of the Event

Is probably the most fascinating supervisor on the Gold Cup the one who hasn’t even appeared but?

Jesse Marsch, the American answerable for Canada’s males’s nationwide group, is at the moment 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 collection at BC Place) and also will sit out Saturday’s Group B recreation vs Curaçao in Houston. 

On Wednesday, Concacaf stated it will be additional investigating Marsch for guidelines violations and utilizing offensive language throughout Tuesday’s recreation — although 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 smug” this week on his “State of the Union” podcast? 

So, who’s Jesse Marsch and why has he turn into one of the crucial hot-topic figures on the Gold Cup? Lets’s dive in:

Why Is Marsch Suspended?

Marsch’s suspension dates again to March. He obtained a pink 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‑recreation ban was elevated to 2 after Concacaf’s disciplinary committee dominated his conduct was “unacceptable.”

However with Wednesday’s announcement of a contemporary 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 group could be very a lot residing as much as expectations of being a match favourite and successful 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 Photos)

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 group 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 group forward of the 2024 Copa America, and led the group 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 in regards to the U.S. males’s group?

Marsch has taken some digs on the U.S. males’s group 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 in regards to the group he as soon as represented as a participant. 

“I am disenchanted with the performances, the shortage of self-discipline. There are a variety of issues that I feel we have tried to embody in regards to the recreation within the U.S., and we have at all times believed in these group of gamers,” Marsch stated final summer season. “I am not there daily, so I haven’t got my finger on the heartbeat of what is going on on, nevertheless it’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 contemplate the U.S. males’s job ought to Mauricio Pochettino go away the put up – particularly forward of the 2026 World Cup. 

“I wish to make it clear – I don’t care in regards to the U.S. group, and I by no means wish to coach the U.S. nationwide group. I’m making that clear proper now,” Marsch stated. 

With Canada additionally being a co-host for 2026 World Cup, anticipate Marsch to nonetheless be concerned if the group continues to stay as much as its expectations. 

Marsch vs. Pochettino: Ought to we anticipate a U.S.-Canada conflict on the Gold Cup?

If the U.S. and Canada advance to the knockout rounds – each groups are in charge 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 bought Marsch suspended within the first place – so anticipate some fireworks if the 2 groups meet. 

Canada has not received this match since 2000, so anticipate for Marsch to be further motivated if the U.S. stand in his method of the title. In any case, Canada has among the finest squads within the match (though Alphonso Davies is out with an damage). That is one thing Marsch made clear when he talked in regards to 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 12 months, possibly 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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