Jesse Marsch discusses Canada's success at Copa América, future of USMNT: 'I'm glad I'm here'

There are rude welcomes, and then there is the fixture list Jesse Marsch walked into when he became coach of the Canada men's national team in March. 

Marsch's first two games as Canada's new boss were friendlies against 2022 FIFA Men's World Cup runner-up and 2018 winner France and fellow European powerhouse The Netherlands. His third was the 2024 Copa América opening match on June 20 against Argentina — the defending Copa América and World Cup champion who beat France in the 2022 final.

But Canada has embraced those challenges under Marsch, the American manager known for his aggressive, counter-pressing tactics — though Marsch admitted in an exclusive interview with Jimmy Conrad on "FOX Soccer NOW" that it was a daunting schedule to assume.

"I was thinking, ‘Why did I take this job with those three opponents [coming] up?’" Marsch joked. "I knew when I took the job that that the schedule was going to be very difficult — and by the way, put [other Copa América Group A opponents] Peru and Chile in there as well — the first five opponents I knew were going to be very difficult. 

"But I thought that it would give us a chance to create really high standards for how we wanted to play and that these games would show the players that we need to uphold ourselves to very high standards. I felt that if we could execute, then we could have some success."

Marsch's hunch has proved correct. Canada not only advanced out of the group stage at its first-ever Copa América, but also did so when traditional CONCACAF powers Mexico and the United States did not.

"There's real excitement in Canada about the team and the way we've played," Marsch said. "That comes with, I think, a real hunger to keep this thing moving forward."

Marsch, a