Canada’s wide attacks look well suited to a U.S. side that has had to keep reshaping its lineup. The Americans’ emphatic win over Mexico was built partly on defensive and goalkeeper mistakes after Mexico had made their buildup uncomfortable. Canada has shown it can get at this opponent without dominating the ball. That matchup carries more weight for me than the recent scorelines alone.
Shaffelburg scored twice against Peru by arriving on the far side of attacking moves. Canada also created the better shooting chances in its last competitive meeting with the U.S., a 2–1 win under the same coaches. Those matches had different squads, but they show a workable route through the U.S. defense.
Pochettino has made major changes to his starting group across a crowded run of matches. Mexico pressed that group early before its mistakes helped the U.S. pull clear. Marsch’s Canada can bring pressure and width together, which is the combination behind this slip.
