Canada survive South Africa drama as Marsch rages

Canada survive – Jesse Marsch brushed off criticism after Canada’s stoppage-time 1-0 win over South Africa, sending the hosts into the last 16 for the first time. The day’s World Cup Breakfast also zeroes in on a wider slate of knockout stakes for Germany, Brazil and the Nethe

For Canada, the noise kept coming right up to the final whistle in Los Angeles. Stephen Eustaquio struck in stoppage time to give the tournament hosts a 1-0 win over South Africa and push them into the last 16 for the first time in World Cup history.

Jesse Marsch was still in pitchside mode when the cameras moved in. The Canadian manager said he “doesn’t give a s***” if people find him performative after he delivered a rousing huddle speech to his players on the pitch following the win. Marsch called his team “Canadian heroes” four times after Eustaquio’s late goal.

The celebrations had a clear shape. Captain Alphonso Davies returned as Bayern Munich’s star—after the armband was lost by Eustaquio when Davies came back—while Canada ground out a match that never really threatened to turn pretty. After being denied a penalty in stoppage time of the first half. Canada fought on and Eustaquio sent them through with a strike from the edge of the box—an end product that sealed the night for the co-hosts.

Marsch, 52, is already moving on to what comes next. He is flying to Monterrey to watch Canada’s next opponents, with the draw for that slot to be decided between the Netherlands and Morocco. He sees either match as a “free hit.”

From the stands to the sidebar, the tournament kept its pulse. Jessica Alba attended the South Africa vs Canada game alongside her moustachioed actor boyfriend Danny Ramirez. Alba. 45. appeared more focused on the action than her romantic companion as she took her plush black seat with a hot beverage.

Bastian Schweinsteiger, 41, also showed up even as he remains embroiled in a “racism” row. The former German midfielder has called Ivory Coast’s approach “wild” and “a bit African football,” remarks that manager Emerse Fae said were racist. Schweinsteiger has since stood by his words.

There was more than one emotion on display. Canada’s players celebrated their stoppage-time victory while South Africa’s Oswin Appollis stared into the distance.

One small moment—almost a footnote—went viral for the wrong reasons. A photo drew attention after the subject dropped her phone into a lower tier of the stadium as she watched Canada against South Africa. She now doesn’t have the phone. after accidentally sending it down. and Daily Mail Sport sincerely hopes she gets it back in one piece.

The day also carried a statistic that feels almost like a curiosity that became a landmark. Canada’s 1-0 victory over South Africa in Los Angeles was the first time in World Cup history that a host nation has played a match on foreign soil during the tournament.

What to watch next comes fast, and it starts with Germany’s forward conundrum. Kai Havertz faces a nail-biting wait over whether he retains his starting place against Paraguay after Arsenal’s forward looked to have solidified his position with two goals against Curacao in the opening match. But Deniz Undav made his point: he came off the bench to score in that game. was substituted against Ivory Coast. and then turned the tempo against Ivory Coast with a poacher’s double. Undav also has two assists off the bench. suggesting he can take on the role of “bringing others into play.” At 23. he was still semi-pro when he was working in a factory before football—an odd detail that only makes the rise feel sharper. The former factory floor worker could now be given a crack from the start against Paraguay.

Brazil’s situation carries a different kind of urgency. Neymar broke down in tears at the end of Brazil’s 3-0 win over Scotland after playing for the national team for the first time in 981 days. The 34-year-old. in his fourth World Cup. made a positive contribution off the bench and said his heart was beating “a thousand times a minute.” Carlo Ancelotti will be counting on that lift against Japan. as Japan’s well-drilled. pressing style and devastating counter-attacks have already been proven. Neymar is Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer—above even Pele—and his energy from the bench could matter. especially in a game where the tournament’s next stage may demand something extra. But if Japan win, this may be the last we see of Neymar on the world stage.

Later fixtures underline how much the tournament’s familiar hierarchy is being tested. Today’s slate includes Brazil vs Japan in Houston at 6pm. Germany vs Paraguay in Boston at 9pm. and Netherlands vs Morocco in Monterrey at 2.30am tomorrow. The Netherlands have been prolific in the group stages, scoring the joint-most alongside France and Germany with 10 goals. Cody Gakpo and Brian Brobbey—listed in the coverage as driving forces for the Oranje—have been among the key scorers. Morocco. ranked sixth in the world. are unbeaten in 47 of their last 48 games if you count their AFCON final against Senegal as a defeat. even though the North Africans were awarded the trophy retrospectively the night before. Morocco also have form that stretches beyond the group stage: they dumped out Belgium. Spain and Portugal on their way to the semi-finals in Qatar in 2022.

Underneath those storylines is a blunt challenge for the sport. The games featuring Japan. Morocco and Paraguay are treated as litmus tests for the global spread of football. with the reminder that the World Cup winner has never come from outside Europe or South America. Whether that changes depends on nights like these.

In Houston. Brazil chase a threat: they beat Scotland 3-0 and now face a Japan team that already tested them—Japan beat Brazil 3-2 back in October. Ancelotti will also be encouraged by the early returns of Vinicius Junior and Matheus Cunha. who have hit the ground running in North America with four and three goals respectively. Hajime Moriyasu’s Japan, though, have built a cohesive unit that presses ferociously and counters quickly. Prediction for the match is Brazil win, with the winner set to face either Ivory Coast or Norway.

In Boston, Germany’s regrouping is the central pressure point. Germany were reminded of their frailties after a 2-1 defeat by Ecuador in their final group game. The 2014 champions have now reached the knockout stages for the first time since 2014 and face another defensively dogged South American outfit in Paraguay. with the expectation they play much more as a team. Julian Nagelsmann’s side also carries the weight of media commentary from a long list of legendary pundits. with Jurgen Klopp. Thomas Muller. Philipp Lahm and Per Mertesacker all passing judgements in the coverage. Germany have shown potency in a 7-1 thrashing of Curacao. but their performances against Ivory Coast and Ecuador left much to be desired. The prediction included here is that Paraguay win on penalties. The winner will face either France or Sweden.

In Monterrey, the Netherlands vs Morocco match is framed as one of the ties of the round—something that could have passed for a quarter-final or even a semi-final. The winner is slated to face Canada in the last 16.

For now, though, the tournament focus stays where it first landed last night: on a stoppage-time strike, a coach insisting he won’t be shamed by performative criticism, and a host nation that refused to go quietly.

World Cup Canada South Africa Jesse Marsch Stephen Eustaquio Alphonso Davies Neymar Brazil Japan Germany Paraguay Netherlands Morocco Kai Havertz Deniz Undav Bastian Schweinsteiger