KEY TAKEAWAYS: Shaffelburg shines as new-look CanMNT takes another key step forward in win vs. Venezuela
They were nearly pushed to the brink, but despite bending, they never broke.
With that, the CanMNT were able to claim one of the biggest results in their program’s history, as they defeated Venezuela 4-3 on penalties (1-1 after 90’) in their Copa América quarter-final matchup on Friday, allowing them to advance to the semi-finals of Conmebol’s marquee tournament for the first time.
Despite this being just their first participation in this tournament, Canada once again showed the savvy that impressed onlookers as they grinded their way through the group stages, finding a way to shine in one of their biggest matches in recent history.
It wasn’t easy, as they battled all sorts of adversity throughout this match, but in the end, they managed to leave as the last team standing, having found a way to survive the battle that is knockout soccer.
For a team that hasn’t had much experience on a stage like this, and is just one month removed from the debut of new manager Jesse Marsch, it was quite remarkable to see, yet, it’s another key step in their evolution as a team.
Just months ago, they looked like a group that hadn’t just hit a wall in their growth, but one that had started stagnating, which nearly put their participation at this tournament in doubt.
Now, it feels like they’ve taken a massive step forward with what they’ve shown over the past few weeks, and the ride is far from over, as they’re now getting set for a semi-final date with defending World Cup and Copa América champions Argentina, before either moving onto a final or third-place match from there.
It can't be understated how massive it is for the #CanMNT to reach the Copa América semi-finals
— Alexandre Gangué-Ruzic (@AlexGangueRuzic) July 6, 2024
Just months ago, they had to go through a one-game playoff to reach this tournament - now, they'll finish in the top 4 and have 2 more games to play to help their 2026 World Cup prep
Had you told most onlookers months ago that Canada would be in that position, they would’ve likely chuckled, but now, it’s Canada who is having the last laugh after this key victory.
With that in mind, here’s what stood out from a huge Canadian win.
Shaffelburg shows no sign of slowing down amid breakout tournament:
There’s rising to the occasion and making the most of your opportunities, and then there’s the play of Jacob Shaffelburg, who has quickly emerged as a cult hero in this tournament for Canada due to his hair, his birthplace of Kentville Nova Scotia, and his ability to play with a smile.
But after doing well in the group stages, picking up an assist on Canada’s lone goal of this tournament against Peru while also providing energy both off the bench and as a starter, he somehow found a new level in this Venezuela match, further adding to his growing legend.
Yet, in typical Shaffelburg fashion, his success didn’t come from him doing anything flashy, or anything out of the ordinary in this game - he instead impressed with his mentality and work rate.
Right from kick-off, he looked like a threat down Canada’s left side in his second straight start (and his second ever for Canada), working hard and off the ball. In a matchup where the flanks were highlighted as a key area heading into it, he quickly helped Canada gain an early edge in that battle, giving Canada good energy down the flanks.
That itself was huge, but then, Shaffelburg found a way to further etch himself in Canadian lore with a moment to remember.
After some quick-thinking from Alistair Johnston on a 13th-minute throw-in created some space in the box for Jonathan David, David managed to wiggle into the box and send a dangerous low cross towards the front post.
There, up stepped Shaffelburg, who had come alive with the prospect of getting on the edge of a cross, giving him a jump on the Venezuelan defenders to reach the ball first. Then, once he received that ball, he wasn’t going to miss, as he made no mistake on a first-time shot to give Canada a crucial early lead.
In a big game, you need big players
— Alexandre Gangué-Ruzic (@AlexGangueRuzic) July 6, 2024
With some of the goals and assists that Jacob Shaffelburg has nabbed for the #CanMNT, he’s starting to make a name as a big game player
This may be his biggest goal yet, giving 🇨🇦 the lead vs 🇻🇪 in the Copa América QFspic.twitter.com/1lmSmc6as0
One of the biggest goals this team has ever scored, it was a huge moment for Shaffelburg, who seemed to recognize that with his jubilant celebration.
Yet, it’s just the latest magical moment that Shaffelburg has been able to produce for club and country over the last 14 months, as he’s starting to show that he has a key skill in his toolbelt - an ability to shine on the biggest of stages.
He first showed that at last year’s Gold Cup quarter-final against the US, where he scored a massive goal in extra time in a dramatic penalty shootout loss, and then showed it again for his club Nashville SC this year, scoring a clutch brace in the first leg of a Concacaf Champions Cup tie against none other than Inter Miami and Lionel Messi. Then, he scored another big goal for Canada in March of this year, scoring the insurance marker in their Copa América playoff match against Trinidad & Tobago, helping them reach this stage.
And now, he’s found a way to score the biggest goal of his career in this Venezuela match, continuing what has been a transformative tournament for him.
Just months ago, he wasn’t sure to even be in the Canadian fold for this tournament with their depth up front, but after some strong cameos off the bench and from the start over the past few games, he’s now inching his way towards becoming a surefire starter. After scoring this goal while generating two shots, one key pass and putting in a strong defensive performance against Venezuela, his case for starting is certainly stronger than ever.
Because of that, look for the legend of Shaffelburg to continue to grow in the semi-finals, as he continues this strong tournament, one that could alter his career in a big way, with interest from European clubs likely to come based on how he’s responded when called upon.
COPA AMERICA WE ARE INSIDE YOU(R NET)!!! 🇨🇦#CanMNT UP 1-0 😎 pic.twitter.com/UbDjDyLF0C
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) July 6, 2024
Back four holds strong for Canada:
Just as everyone predicted heading into this tournament, Canada grinded their way to the semi-finals with this win vs. Venezuela off the back of their high-powered… defence?
Yup, you read that correctly - Canada continued to impress with their play in their own box this game, doing well to build off a solid group stage defensively.
Having only allowed two goals and kept two clean sheets in three group stage games, allowing them to advance to the quarter-finals despite scoring only one goal, they knew they had to build off that in this match. Typically, strong defensive teams do well in tournament soccer, with big games usually decided on key moments with how cagey they can be.
Especially for a Canadian team struggling to score, Canada’s defence knew they had to be strong, giving their offence a chance to win.
And overall, they did well to step up to the test. They weren’t perfect, as they gave up a goal they’ll want to forget at a terrible moment, with Venezuela’s Salomon Rondón scoring from half on a play littered with errors from Canada, but other than that, they were pretty darn near close to the golden standard of defending.
VENEZUELA SCORES!🇻🇪
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) July 6, 2024
Salomón Rondón ties the game for Venezuela.#CA2024 pic.twitter.com/pEFfnIY9Oi
The numbers certainly back up that fact, too, as they allowed just 0.97 xG on 16 shots from Venezuela, doing well to keep Venezuela away from their goal for most of the night. Certainly, they were some hairy moments, as they invited more pressure than they would’ve liked, but they constantly found a way to make key defensive interventions, which combined with some key stops from Maxime Crépeau, was enough to get them the win.
For that, however, credit has to be given to Canada’s back four, made up of Alphonso Davies, Derek Cornelius, Moïse Bombito and Alistair Johnston, as they had arguably their best match together as a group.
Despite playing together for just the sixth time, having been put together as a brand-new unit when Marsch arrived, they looked like they’d been playing together for years, which led to some strong individual showings.
Led by Davies, who was elite defensively at left back and arguably put up one of his best showings in a Canadian shirt to show the value of him playing further back for Canada, and supported by a gutsy Johnston effort on the other flank, along with solid showing from centre backs Bombito and Cornelius, the four hardly set a foot wrong on the night.
Alphonso Davies quietly had an elite defensive showing for the #CanMNT today, showing the value he can bring at LB
— Alexandre Gangué-Ruzic (@AlexGangueRuzic) July 6, 2024
Some key #s:
32/37 passing (86%)
5 passes into the final 3rd
5/6 tackles
2 interceptions
9 defensive actions
13 recoveries
8/16 duels
Led by example at the back pic.twitter.com/xfzObaFWhT
Other than the goal, where Bombito will feel he could’ve done better with how he handled Róndon, they kept finding a way to step up in key moments, making some massive interventions.
With that, they were able to give their team a chance of winning this game. It wasn’t always pretty, as they were made to work around their own goal, but defending rarely is eye-pleasing unless you value grit and effort.
And they had those two things in spades, continuing what has been a strong tournament for the group, which is key after many were worried to see Davies deployed deeper and for the inexperienced pair of Cornelius and Bombito all deployed together just weeks prior, showing how quickly they’ve come together as a back four with Johnston. 
Missed chances nearly the story again for Canada:
Arguably, this might’ve been Canada’s best performance under Marsch, as they defended well, created chances, worked hard on both sides of the ball and did well to dictate the game on their terms.
Despite that, they were made to sweat far more than they should’ve, but that’s because a key issue cropped up again in this game - they were wasteful in front of goal.
The stats tell the story there - despite generating 1.87 xG on 16 shots and creating four big chances (per OPTA), Shaffelburg’s goal was their lone tally.
With that, they’ve now missed 12 big chances this tournament, showing they should have more than the two goals they’ve scored to their name.
The #CanMNT have missed 4 big chances tonight, per OPTA, meaning they've now missed 12 of the 13 big chances they've generated this Copa América
— Alexandre Gangué-Ruzic (@AlexGangueRuzic) July 6, 2024
They're putting in a very strong performance vs 🇻🇪, yet their finishing is the lone thing keeping this game tied at 1-1
Yet, they continued to struggle in front of goal in this game, and it nearly cost them.
For example, after the Shaffelburg opener, Canada had a few great chances to double their lead. First, Shaffelburg forced a great save out of Rafael Romo in the 24th minute, before Jonathan David missed the net altogether on a breakaway in the 26th minute, and then Cyle Larin was just a second late to a dangerous Richie Laryea shot/cross in the 31st minute.
Then, in the second half, Larin sent a glorious chance over the bar after a great cross from Laryea, doing so despite having time to take a touch and pick his corner, instead blasting the ball over the net on his first touch.
At that point, it could’ve been argued that Canada could’ve been up by three or four goals, but instead, they remained with just a one-goal lead, one that could evaporate at any moment, such as on Rondón’s 64th-minute marker.
But even after that, however, Canada still had chances to regain their lead and to put this game to rest. Liam Millar had a dangerous tight-angle shot saved by Romo in the 67th minute, Tani Oluwaseyi missed a glorious chance in the 81st minute, and then Ali Ahmed scuffed at a shot inside the box in the 88th minute, as Canada pushed for a winner late.
Yet, as was the case with all of the chances bar Shaffelburg’s opener, Canada were unable to convert on any of those opportunities, forcing them to go to penalties in a game they could’ve put away as soon as the 35th minute. Luckily, they were not burned by that wastefulness, but they easily could’ve, as tournament football typically isn’t kind to those who aren’t ruthless with their opportunities.
Society if the #CanMNT could finish their chances at this Copa América pic.twitter.com/L1Q9G3ESb9
— Alexandre Gangué-Ruzic (@AlexGangueRuzic) July 6, 2024
And with that, it opens up some tough questions for Marsch to answer going forward.
Certainly, he can look at all of the chances that his team has created and remain optimistic that they’ll eventually finish them, a sentiment he shared pre-game, and he’s not wrong to feel that way.
At the same time, with Canada having now struggled to convert their chances in six games under their new coach, scoring just two goals on nearly seven xG, one wonders if some changes are needed in the attack.
With Larin now sitting with just one goal in his last 12 games for Canada, and David sitting with two in his last 11, one can wonder if Marsch might provide a jolt to the CanMNT’s top two all-time goalscorers by tweaking that partnership.
The pair continue to work hard defensively and off the ball, which is helping Canada maintain their strong defensive record, the pair are expected to score goals, and those have been hard to come by.
As they get set for a semi-final against the best team in the world, Canada cannot afford to be so wasteful in front of goal once again, so it’ll be interesting to see how Marsch responds to his team’s missed opportunities, knowing how crucial it could be in a game like that.
Canada’s mentality continues to shine in toughest moments:
Often, you can learn the most about teams in the toughest moments.
How one responds to a key setback, a tough game, or a hostile environment can often tell a lot about their mentality as a group, much more than how they do in favourable conditions.
Throughout this Copa América, Canada’s mentality has constantly been tested, and they’ve found ways to respond each time, with this arguably being their best showing in that regard.
Jesse Marsch on whether #CanMNT get enough respect: "Probably not."
— Joshua Kloke (@joshuakloke) July 6, 2024
"We were the better team, we deserved to win."
They were tested early in the lead-up to this match - a long-term injury sustained to key regular Tajon Buchanan in training this week could’ve easily thrown off the group ahead of a crucial match, and no one would’ve blamed them for that.
Then, as they began this game, the adversity started to pile up as things went along, as a strong pro-Venezuela crowd tried to rattle them at every opportunity, while the officials allowed a physical game with several fouls, making some decisions that Canada felt quite frustrated with.
Along with their woes in front of goal and the mistake they made on Venezuela’s marker, it felt like Canada could’ve imploded late and no one would’ve batted an eye, as their frustration seemed like it was bubbling.
Yet, that didn’t bother Canada. Instead, they kept their head down and then flexed their mentality in the best way possible in the shootout.
Despite dealing with lasers from fans, and then missing two key opportunities to grab a stranglehold on the shootout, which nearly pushed them to get eliminated if not for an ice-cool Davies penalty on Canada’s fifth shot of the shootout, their mentality continued to shine through that exercise.
So when Ismaël Koné stepped up to take Canada’s sixth penalty with a chance to win the game, his demeanour told the whole story. Despite having been benched in this tournament, one where he’s struggled to meet his usually lofty standards while also dealing with a massive career move to Ligue 1 side Marseille, Koné took his penalty like he was shooting against a friend on a pitch in Saint-Laurent.
Without a care in the world, he sauntered up to the ball and then confidently picked his corner, before turning around and facing his teammates without offering them as much of a shrug, as if he couldn’t be too bothered by the fact that he’d just won the game.
HISTORIC MOMENT FOR CANADA!
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) July 6, 2024
⁰#CA2024 pic.twitter.com/AgrrIP4cvy
But that swagger is a byproduct of this team’s mentality. Even as they’ve dealt with outside noise, they’ve continued to chase their goals with the resolve of a team that believes they belong on this stage, doing well to emit quiet confidence without veering towards bravado.
With that, they’ve been able to make a key step as a program. After long looking like a side that has looked like they can compete with but not beat top teams, they’ve started to show the mentality required to get over that hump, and the fact that they’re now about to play in a Copa América semi-final shows that. 
And now that they’re here, they haven’t swayed from that approach, either. As Marsch noted after the game, while they’re excited for the opportunity to continue their remarkable journey, one that has caught the eyes of many back in Canada and around the world for good reason, they’re not satisfied with what they’ve shown quite yet.
“Argentina will have to be the best match we’ve ever played and it still might not be enough,’ Marsch said. “But, whatever. We’re going to go for it.”
