The former USMNT star voiced support for the Canadian side, emphasizing it's time to deliver as tournament favorites
Lalas praises Marsch's bold stance with CanadaConsiders Canada more talented than USMNT, MexicoTeam faces pressure to validate newfound statusAFPWHAT HAPPENED
Former USMNT star Alexi Lalas addressed Jesse Marsch's attempts to downplay Canada's role as Gold Cup favorites in his pre-tournament news conference, and admitted that he admires the fact that the Canadian national team coach “has been big, bold and arrogant" – and that he can’t switch lanes now.
Marsch recently told GOAL that Canada have been focused on the Gold Cup, saying, "We believe that we're in the range of competing and winning that trophy. And we're fixated on doing that.”
“A little underdog Canada now,” Lalas said on his State of the Union podcast. “Now you can't have it both ways, Jesse. I love the fact that Jesse has been big, bold and arrogant – and now you can't go the opposite way. Now he's absolutely right that at some point they're going to have to back up the big talk that they have been giving now on a consistent basis.
“And he's got himself a very, very good team. I think it's completely fair to talk about them as being favorites – and certainly better than this current U.S. team. And you can make an argument better than Mexico. So I think that they are getting, well, a little worried maybe about the expectations. But they've created this situation and I'm here for it. I love the fact that they have."
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Lalas added that he’s paying attention to Les Rouges because of the way Marsch has them playing.
“I love the fact that Jesse Marsch has made me care and pay attention to Canada because when it comes to Canada, let's be honest, it's Canada,” Lalas added. “They're nice, nice guys, nice country, but you know, it's Canada. And Jesse Marsch, in a very short period of time with the things that he has done and said, has made me pay attention to this country. And they are a very, very good team – and they very well could go on and win this thing.
"But I think a lot of people are saying, 'All right, Jesse, slow your roll now go out and actually do something' and we'll see if it ultimately happens here. It's a great opportunity for Jesse. Now we see them come into this Gold Cup."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Canada enters the 2025 Gold Cup with unprecedented expectations, marking a significant shift for a program that regional powers have historically overshadowed. They’ve won the tournament twice in the past (1985 and 2000) and finished third at the 2002 iteration, but have only reached the semifinals stage twice since.
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Canada open their 2025 Gold Cup group stages against Honduras Tuesday at BC Place in Vancouver.