Jesse Marsch issued Canada害羞草研究所檚 men害羞草研究所檚 soccer squad a challenge 害羞草研究所� get physical.

The edict came after the Canadians surprised many at this summer害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淚 challenged them to be more physically present in the matches that they played in,害羞草研究所� Marsch said. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e tried to encourage all the players to sprint more, to win more duels, to win more balls, to be more dynamic in matches.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檚 2-1 victory over the United States on Saturday and Tuesday害羞草研究所檚 0-0 draw against Mexico.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 really happy for him,害羞草研究所� Marsch said. 害羞草研究所淚 think he害羞草研究所檚 still young and still has a lot of room and potential to continue to grow.害羞草研究所�

Playing under Marsch 害羞草研究所� who took over as head coach in May 害羞草研究所� has been a boon for the young athlete, currently in his second full season with Major League Soccer害羞草研究所檚 Whitecaps.

害羞草研究所淛esse has a very clear way of playing,害羞草研究所� Ahmed said. 害羞草研究所淎nd I think the way we害羞草研究所檝e been training and the way we害羞草研究所檝e been growing as a group, it害羞草研究所檚 been helpful for me.害羞草研究所�

The reward of getting minutes for a national team can spur a player害羞草研究所檚 growth, including Ahmed, said Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini.

害羞草研究所淥f course that fuels him inside to say 害羞草研究所楬ey, I want to be a better player. I want to get to that stage,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 said Sartini.

Vancouver had six players 害羞草研究所� including Ahmed 害羞草研究所� away on international duty during its 0-0 draw against Dallas FC on Saturday. The absences are a good problem to have, Sartini said.

害羞草研究所淏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害羞草研究所檛 been called,害羞草研究所� he said.

Born in Toronto, Ahmed came up through the Whitecaps害羞草研究所� academy system and played for Vancouver害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淭actically, he害羞草研究所檚 technically gifted,害羞草研究所� the coach said. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e told him he害羞草研究所檚 got to get in the gym more.

害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檚 what the high standards of the game are about.害羞草研究所�

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害羞草研究所檚 learned the players are smarter and more capable than he originally thought, which forces the coach to constantly recalibrate his standards.

害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 my job right now, to keep raising the level of the demands,害羞草研究所� he said.

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

害羞草研究所淚 think we害羞草研究所檙e changing the perception on the way we害羞草研究所檙e playing now,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚 think beating the U.S. 害羞草研究所� it would have been nice to beat Mexico as well 害羞草研究所� the way we did, the way that we performed at Copa, I think teams are starting to look at us differently.

害羞草研究所淩ight now, I think we害羞草研究所檙e focused on ourselves. We害羞草研究所檙e definitely trying to be the best in CONCACAF and we have higher goals as well.害羞草研究所�