Jesse Marsch issued Canada91裸聊视频檚 men91裸聊视频檚 soccer squad a challenge 91裸聊视频� get physical.

The edict came after the Canadians surprised many at this summer91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淚 challenged them to be more physically present in the matches that they played in,91裸聊视频� Marsch said. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e tried to encourage all the players to sprint more, to win more duels, to win more balls, to be more dynamic in matches.91裸聊视频�

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 Canada91裸聊视频檚 2-1 victory over the United States on Saturday and Tuesday91裸聊视频檚 0-0 draw against Mexico.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 really happy for him,91裸聊视频� Marsch said. 91裸聊视频淚 think he91裸聊视频檚 still young and still has a lot of room and potential to continue to grow.91裸聊视频�

Playing under Marsch 91裸聊视频� who took over as head coach in May 91裸聊视频� has been a boon for the young athlete, currently in his second full season with Major League Soccer91裸聊视频檚 Whitecaps.

91裸聊视频淛esse has a very clear way of playing,91裸聊视频� Ahmed said. 91裸聊视频淎nd I think the way we91裸聊视频檝e been training and the way we91裸聊视频檝e been growing as a group, it91裸聊视频檚 been helpful for me.91裸聊视频�

The reward of getting minutes for a national team can spur a player91裸聊视频檚 growth, including Ahmed, said Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini.

91裸聊视频淥f course that fuels him inside to say 91裸聊视频楬ey, I want to be a better player. I want to get to that stage,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� said Sartini.

Vancouver had six players 91裸聊视频� including Ahmed 91裸聊视频� away on international duty during its 0-0 draw against Dallas FC on Saturday. The absences are a good problem to have, Sartini said.

91裸聊视频淏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 hadn91裸聊视频檛 been called,91裸聊视频� he said.

Born in Toronto, Ahmed came up through the Whitecaps91裸聊视频� academy system and played for Vancouver91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淭actically, he91裸聊视频檚 technically gifted,91裸聊视频� the coach said. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e told him he91裸聊视频檚 got to get in the gym more.

91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 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 that91裸聊视频檚 what the high standards of the game are about.91裸聊视频�

Marsch has quickly adjusted to recalibrating standards in his short time with Team Canada. Since taking over the squad in May, the coach said he91裸聊视频檚 learned the players are smarter and more capable than he originally thought, which forces the coach to constantly recalibrate his standards.

91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 my job right now, to keep raising the level of the demands,91裸聊视频� he said.

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

91裸聊视频淚 think we91裸聊视频檙e changing the perception on the way we91裸聊视频檙e playing now,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚 think beating the U.S. 91裸聊视频� it would have been nice to beat Mexico as well 91裸聊视频� the way we did, the way that we performed at Copa, I think teams are starting to look at us differently.

91裸聊视频淩ight now, I think we91裸聊视频檙e focused on ourselves. We91裸聊视频檙e definitely trying to be the best in CONCACAF and we have higher goals as well.91裸聊视频�