Jesse Marsch issued Canada香蕉视频直播檚 men香蕉视频直播檚 soccer squad a challenge 香蕉视频直播� get physical.

The edict came after the Canadians surprised many at this summer香蕉视频直播檚 Copa America tournament, making it through to the semifinals. As his players departed for their professional clubs, the head coach wanted them thinking about continued growth.

香蕉视频直播淚 challenged them to be more physically present in the matches that they played in,香蕉视频直播� Marsch said. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e tried to encourage all the players to sprint more, to win more duels, to win more balls, to be more dynamic in matches.香蕉视频直播�

When Canada reconvened for a pair of friendlies last week, the coach saw some players had already heeded his call, including Vancouver Whitecaps product Ali Ahmed.

The 23-year-old midfielder started in both Canada香蕉视频直播檚 2-1 victory over the United States on Saturday and Tuesday香蕉视频直播檚 0-0 draw against Mexico.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 really happy for him,香蕉视频直播� Marsch said. 香蕉视频直播淚 think he香蕉视频直播檚 still young and still has a lot of room and potential to continue to grow.香蕉视频直播�

Playing under Marsch 香蕉视频直播� who took over as head coach in May 香蕉视频直播� has been a boon for the young athlete, currently in his second full season with Major League Soccer香蕉视频直播檚 Whitecaps.

香蕉视频直播淛esse has a very clear way of playing,香蕉视频直播� Ahmed said. 香蕉视频直播淎nd I think the way we香蕉视频直播檝e been training and the way we香蕉视频直播檝e been growing as a group, it香蕉视频直播檚 been helpful for me.香蕉视频直播�

The reward of getting minutes for a national team can spur a player香蕉视频直播檚 growth, including Ahmed, said Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini.

香蕉视频直播淥f course that fuels him inside to say 香蕉视频直播楬ey, I want to be a better player. I want to get to that stage,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� said Sartini.

Vancouver had six players 香蕉视频直播� including Ahmed 香蕉视频直播� away on international duty during its 0-0 draw against Dallas FC on Saturday. The absences are a good problem to have, Sartini said.

香蕉视频直播淏ecause we have players that are close to the national team, we have a lot of players that development is faster, better, bigger than it would have been if they hadn香蕉视频直播檛 been called,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Born in Toronto, Ahmed came up through the Whitecaps香蕉视频直播� academy system and played for Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 MLS Next Pro side before cementing his spot on the first team in 2023. He put up two goals and two assists across 22 regular-season games, and added another goal and another helper in 19 appearances this year.

Taking the next step will require the five-foot-11, 154-pound Ahmed to push himself physically, Marsch said.

香蕉视频直播淭actically, he香蕉视频直播檚 technically gifted,香蕉视频直播� the coach said. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e told him he香蕉视频直播檚 got to get in the gym more.

香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 a lot of these little things where too many guys, they still look like kids and we need to help them look like men and play like men. And that香蕉视频直播檚 what the high standards of the game are about.香蕉视频直播�

Marsch has quickly adjusted to recalibrating standards in his short time with Team Canada. Since taking over the squad in May, the coach said he香蕉视频直播檚 learned the players are smarter and more capable than he originally thought, which forces the coach to constantly recalibrate his standards.

香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 my job right now, to keep raising the level of the demands,香蕉视频直播� he said.

The way 40th-ranked Canada is viewed on the international stage is evolving, too.

香蕉视频直播淚 think we香蕉视频直播檙e changing the perception on the way we香蕉视频直播檙e playing now,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚 think beating the U.S. 香蕉视频直播� it would have been nice to beat Mexico as well 香蕉视频直播� the way we did, the way that we performed at Copa, I think teams are starting to look at us differently.

香蕉视频直播淩ight now, I think we香蕉视频直播檙e focused on ourselves. We香蕉视频直播檙e definitely trying to be the best in CONCACAF and we have higher goals as well.香蕉视频直播�