CanMNT loss to Mexico exposes a weakness even Jesse Marsch can't fix | OneFootball

At worst, Canada has two of Concacaf's best five players in Jonathan David and Alphonso Davies. It has the region's deepest striking corps with the recent additions of Daniel Jebbison and Promise David to the player pool. And it has a sizable, legitimately earned chip on its shoulder for the continued perception of its status as being the third wheel in the eternal border struggle between the United States and Mexico.

But in Thursday night's 2-0 loss to Mexico in the Concacaf Nations League semifinals, it became clear that Canada also has a fatal flaw: An attacking weakness in the center of the park that puts Jesse Marsch's men at a considerable disadvantage in games when they fall behind.

Ball-dominant blues

While Mexico certainly got some good fortune in their victory -- most notably, the bizarre refusal by match officials to even use video review on what appeared to be a clear penalty foul by Edson Alvarez on Derek Cornelius -- they also demonstrated how toothless Canada can look in a game against an opponent that doesn't feel the need to attack proactively.

Raul Jimenez's first-minute goal permitted Javier Aguirre's squad to concede 57% of the ball over 90 minutes while maturely managing their one-goal lead. The result was only one Canadian shot on goal all night, and an attack that time an again found space on the flanks but rarely translated it into dangerous opportunities in the box.

And this is a pattern that has repeated over multiple Canada coaches, because it's one born of personnel and not tactics. Neither striker Jonathan David, nor deeper sitting midfielders Stephen Estaquio and Ismael Kone are truly capable of being that line-breaking player in tight spaces at the top of the box and beyond against an opponent that doesn't send numbers forward.

David was the one charged with filling the No. 10 role on Thursday in what was officially termed a 4-2-3-1 formation. It was an understandable choice because, in theory, David has the most polished technical skills that could translate to the playmaking role. In practice, all it did was pull Canada's best goal scorer much further from the goal.

Misery loves company

Canada is far from alone in lacking the kind of player who can do magic in tight spaces. Pulisic can do it at times for the U.S., but it's not his calling card, and there's not really anyone else in the Americans' first-choice XI who excel at it.

That's one reason Mauricio Pochettino included Diego Luna in his 23-man squad and one reason some American fans are eagerly hoping Luciano Acosta can receive his citizenship before 2026. (Why Pochettino chose not to use Luna against Panama is another puzzling matter).

But perhaps Canada's shortcoming in that department is more noticeable because of how talented they are in most other positions on the field, particularly at striker and out wide.

It's an imbalance that makes Marsch's group look like the best team in the region when the game state allows Canada to play on the counter, but like a squad clearly a step down from Mexico and the U.S. when the situation demands they chase the game.

Marsch probably undestands this as well as anyone. That would explain why he has placed a heavier emphasis on defensive shape and compactness in this job than in his club roles.

But sometimes the ball just bounces the wrong way, onto the foot of the wrong player at the wrong time, as it did to Raul Jimenez in the 1st minute on Thursday night.