Marsch, Canada relishing Argentina rematch: 'Game of our lives'

Canada head coach Jesse Marsch said his team is relishing the opportunity to get another shot at Lionel Messi and Argentina in the semifinals of the Copa America after a historic quarterfinal victory over Venezuela on Friday.

After a breathless battle that finished 1-1 after 90 minutes at AT&T Stadium, the Canadians emerged with a 4-3 shootout win. The victory extended their remarkable run at their first-ever Copa America and sets up arguably the biggest match in the history of the men's program on Tuesday.

"Argentina will have to be the best match we've ever played, and it still might not be enough," Marsch told reporters, according to Oliver Platt of OneSoccer. "But, whatever. We're going to go for it."

Marsch, quickly taking the Canadian men to new heights after being hired in mid-May, added that his side wants to "play the game of our lives" in a rematch of the tournament opener from just over two weeks ago.

Argentina emerged with a 2-0 triumph in that contest, but not before Canada created some genuine scoring opportunities and pushed the reigning World Cup and Copa America champion hard before eventually conceding a late goal that cemented the result.

"We expect a battle. They also should expect a battle," captain Alphonso Davies, who converted one of Canada's penalties in Friday's shootout, told TSN of the impending clash.

Canada's men's team, dragged down by off-field issues and poor performances in the immediate aftermath of its 2022 World Cup appearance, is back in the ascendancy after hiring Marsch. The energetic American preaches the type of intensity that has helped the team match the feistiness of its South American opponents at this summer's tournament.

Canada, which had several chances to put Friday's match to bed well before requiring penalties, deserved its win, Marsch said after just his sixth game at the helm.

It deserves its place in the semifinals of the tournament, too.

"Copa America semifinals. If that doesn't get you going, I don't know what will," standout defender Alistair Johnston told TSN's Matthew Scianitti. "You're going to look at the final four teams, whoever it is, it's going to be some pretty big footballing nations, and Canada's going to be in there. That's pretty special for us."