Jesse Marsch issued CanadaB次元官网网址檚 menB次元官网网址檚 soccer squad a challenge B次元官网网址� get physical.

The edict came after the Canadians surprised many at this summerB次元官网网址檚 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.

B次元官网网址淚 challenged them to be more physically present in the matches that they played in,B次元官网网址� Marsch said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e tried to encourage all the players to sprint more, to win more duels, to win more balls, to be more dynamic in matches.B次元官网网址�

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 CanadaB次元官网网址檚 2-1 victory over the United States on Saturday and TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 0-0 draw against Mexico.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 really happy for him,B次元官网网址� Marsch said. B次元官网网址淚 think heB次元官网网址檚 still young and still has a lot of room and potential to continue to grow.B次元官网网址�

Playing under Marsch B次元官网网址� who took over as head coach in May B次元官网网址� has been a boon for the young athlete, currently in his second full season with Major League SoccerB次元官网网址檚 Whitecaps.

B次元官网网址淛esse has a very clear way of playing,B次元官网网址� Ahmed said. B次元官网网址淎nd I think the way weB次元官网网址檝e been training and the way weB次元官网网址檝e been growing as a group, itB次元官网网址檚 been helpful for me.B次元官网网址�

The reward of getting minutes for a national team can spur a playerB次元官网网址檚 growth, including Ahmed, said Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini.

B次元官网网址淥f course that fuels him inside to say B次元官网网址楬ey, I want to be a better player. I want to get to that stage,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� said Sartini.

Vancouver had six players B次元官网网址� including Ahmed B次元官网网址� away on international duty during its 0-0 draw against Dallas FC on Saturday. The absences are a good problem to have, Sartini said.

B次元官网网址淏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 hadnB次元官网网址檛 been called,B次元官网网址� he said.

Born in Toronto, Ahmed came up through the WhitecapsB次元官网网址� academy system and played for VancouverB次元官网网址檚 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.

B次元官网网址淭actically, heB次元官网网址檚 technically gifted,B次元官网网址� the coach said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e told him heB次元官网网址檚 got to get in the gym more.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 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 thatB次元官网网址檚 what the high standards of the game are about.B次元官网网址�

Marsch has quickly adjusted to recalibrating standards in his short time with Team Canada. Since taking over the squad in May, the coach said heB次元官网网址檚 learned the players are smarter and more capable than he originally thought, which forces the coach to constantly recalibrate his standards.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 my job right now, to keep raising the level of the demands,B次元官网网址� he said.

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

B次元官网网址淚 think weB次元官网网址檙e changing the perception on the way weB次元官网网址檙e playing now,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 think beating the U.S. B次元官网网址� it would have been nice to beat Mexico as well B次元官网网址� the way we did, the way that we performed at Copa, I think teams are starting to look at us differently.

B次元官网网址淩ight now, I think weB次元官网网址檙e focused on ourselves. WeB次元官网网址檙e definitely trying to be the best in CONCACAF and we have higher goals as well.B次元官网网址�