World Cup: Jesse Marsch Antics Slammed Despite Canada 6-0 Qatar

Hal picked up his MA in Sports Journalism and NCTJ qualification from St Mary's University Twickenham, Hal has since been part of Valnet since late 2021.

He started as a freelance football writer for This Is Futbol and carried that on over to FootballFanCast before becoming their social media editor. He now works as an editor for GiveMeSport, predominantly focusing on Premier League, Champions League, and English football.

He also helps GiveMeSport cover other major sports such as MMA, boxing, darts, tennis, and golf. Key events like the summer and winter Olympics are also highlights when they appear on the sporting calendar.

Hal is an Arsenal and Three Lions fan, but keeps an eye on the All Blacks, his favourite rugby team, having grown up in New Zealand. Sign in to your GiveMeSport account It was a historic outing in the World Cup for Canada against Qatar, as the tournament hosts picked up their first win of the summer, and their first-ever in the entire history of the FIFA compettion. Not only that, but they did so in emphatic fashion, winning 6-0.

Jesse Marsch watched on delighted as Jonathan David scored a hat-trick, while Cyle Larin, Nathan Saliba and Mohamed Manai also added to the scoring. There were two red cards to Qatari players Homam Al Amin and Assim Omer Madibo, with the latter sent off for his horror foul on Ismael Kone.

If that wasn't enough drama, Canada manager Marsch then clashed with Qatar boss Julen Lopetegui at full-time, with the former seen nodding his head during a conversation, before suddenly flinging his arms in the air and storming off. It’s claimed Lopetegui was unhappy with Marsch’s tactics against his nine-man team.

Throughout the game and even when speaking to the press after the win, Marsch was very animated. He was even seen holding six fingers in the air to the Vancouver crowd to signal the 6-0 win. These antics didn't go down well with everyone, though.

Over in Ireland, Alan Cawley was covering the game for RTE, and he took issue with the Canada boss, calling for more 'class' on the touchline:

"Have a bit of class and decorum about what you've just beaten. And it's only the second game of the tournament, so just put a lid on it! Cool your jets a little bit. He's talking about a national movement in the interview."

Cawley's co-host then pointed out that Marsch was just trying to get more Canadian fans 'onside', with many probably new to the sport. Cawley, however, hit back:

"He doesn't need to try and get them onside because they're hosting, they [the fans] are already there, they're involved. He was doing a rallying call in every press conference; it was the same at Leeds [United], it's the same everywhere.

"That's the way he carries on, but it's nonsense! It's absolute nonsense. Even if you listen to some of the stuff that's coming out of his mouth, it's ridiculous."

On the former Leeds United manager, Cawley concluded: "In fairness, I praised him on one hand, but just have a bit of decorum, a bit of class."

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Canada fans online were quick to defend their national team manager, explaining how it was only natural that Marsch should be delighted with the win, having seen his side pick up a victory for the first time ever at a World Cup. One explained:

"We won our first World Cup game ever, in front of a home crowd, by the largest margin that anyone outside of Europe or South America has ever won a WC game, despite one of our best players having his leg broken mid-game. We should've celebrated even harder tbh."

Another said: "Mate it’s our first win in a World Cup. It’s a huge moment for our national team. We’re all really excited. Have a bit of fun with it will ya."

One more added: "Boy this guy’s completely lost it. Clearly doesn’t like Marsch from Leeds & uses that to paint his own argument. Let us celebrate. It’s not JUST that we beat Qatar, it’s our first EVER World Cup victory."

A fourth wrore: "Unbelievable commentary. How is this guy employed to give takes with the emotional regulation of a toddler that just dropped their ice cream. Humiliating."

Even neutrals were baffled by the criticism, with one saying: "More embarrassing punditry from the mighty RTE again. You now can't celebrate your first World cup win while its at home because of who you played. And they got players sent off? As if that's Canada's fault. Embarrassing amateur stuff all competition so far well done all involved."

While an Irish fan noted: "If we beat someone in the World Cup by six goals, there'd be a bank holiday." Someone else summed up the feeling online: "Really strange take on Jesse Marsch. God forbid the manager shows a bit of emotion when his team win 6-0 at a home World Cup and one of their best players has their leg broken in the same game."