\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6 CanMNT<\/h2>\n\nThe GIST: <\/strong>Canada\u2019s inaugural men\u2019s WC win stirred up equal parts joy and heartbreak, as Isma\u00ebl Kon\u00e9 \u2014 one of the squad\u2019s <\/em>top players \u2014 suffered a gruesome leg injury. Now on the precipice of even more history, Canada must keep their eyes on the prize and play with the same tenacity and fervor from their last dub.<\/p>\n\u23ea Let\u2019s reflect on last Thursday\u2019s win against Qatar: <\/strong>It\u2019s hard to overstate just how well things were going for CanMNT. Strikers Cyle Larin and Jonathan David clearly read our last preview<\/a>, coming out hot and scoring three goals in the first half.<\/p>\n\n- But then Qatari defensive midfielder Assim Madibo tackled the aforementioned Kon\u00e9, breaking his leg and ending his tournament. And although this was devastating, Canada did not bend, scoring twice more and forcing an own goal to win 6\u20130.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- The energy and excitement from the statement win reverberated nationwide, indicating Canadian men\u2019s soccer is firmly part of the worldwide conversation. As head coach Jesse Marsch said, \u201cNo Canadian will forget this day<\/a>.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\ud83d\udc40 That said, today\u2019s opponent, Switzerland, is a far superior team to Qatar. <\/strong>Here are the players who can make a difference and send Canada to the promised land:<\/p>\n\n- \ud83d\udd34 Jonathan David | Striker: <\/strong>Only two players have scored a hat trick so far this WC: David and Argentinian GOAT Lionel Messi. Quite the company to be in.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- \u26aa Nathan Saliba | Midfielder: <\/strong>It\u2019s no small feat to sub in for your buddy after an injury like Kon\u00e9\u2019s. Though he was shaken, Saliba immediately scored \u2014 and celebrated properly<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- \u26ab Maxime Cr\u00e9peau | Goalkeeper: <\/strong>The <\/strong>formidable Cr\u00e9peau was not tested by Qatar, who did not register a single shot on goal. That probably won\u2019t be the case with the Swiss, who have five goals this tourney \u2014 just two fewer than Canada.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udded Switzerland<\/h2>\n![\"It\u2019s](\"https:\/\/cdn.sanity.io\/images\/rdxk7lfa\/production\/2109f146e99980414875fa447ac57932efd5e05e-2048x1365.png?w=600&h=400&q=75&fit=max&auto=format\")
<\/p>\nSource: Associated Press<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nThe GIST: <\/strong>Switzerland was the favorite to win Group B before the WC began, but their tourney hasn\u2019t exactly gone as planned. Here\u2019s what you need to know about the Red Crosses.<\/p>\n\u203c\ufe0f Super subs made the difference in their 4\u20131 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina: <\/strong>After Switzerland\u2019s opening match against Qatar ended in an unexpected 1\u20131 draw, the pressure was on the favorites to come out swinging against Bosnia last Thursday.<\/p>\n\n- However, it took until midway through the second half for the Swiss to open the scoring, with two substitutes \u2014 forward Johan Manzambi and winger Rub\u00e9n Vargas \u2014 accounting for three of their four goals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- Better late than never, sure, but it\u2019s indicative of a real issue: The Red Crosses, who aren\u2019t a high-scoring team to begin with, are off to a slow start.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\ud83d\udd28 But to underestimate is to lose focus <\/strong>\u2014 here are the Swiss players who could cause Canada some trouble:<\/p>\n\n- \ud83d\udd34 Granit Xhaka | Defensive midfielder: <\/strong>The veteran captain has been scrutinized by the Swiss media<\/a> for being too negative about his team this tourney, but that doesn\u2019t seem to bother Xhaka, who is still the most effective Swiss playmaker on the field.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- \u26aa Johan Manzambi | Forward: <\/strong>The 20-year-old made all the difference against Bosnia, coming off the bench and scoring two goals in 16 minutes. Perhaps it\u2019ll be enough to earn him a starting spot against Canada.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
\ud83d\udd11 CanMNT\u2019s keys to success<\/h2>\n![\"It\u2019s](\"data:image\/png;base64,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\")
![\"It\u2019s](\"https:\/\/cdn.sanity.io\/images\/rdxk7lfa\/production\/953a02d45e12ee58ad9ffd19427e844fe5db5a1d-1767x1178.png?w=600&h=400&q=75&fit=max&auto=format\")
<\/p>\nSource: Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\ud83d\udc4f CanMNT proved they are capable of relentless, physical, and clinical offense in their win over Qatar<\/strong> \u2014 an evolution that\u2019s unfolded since Marsch took the reins. Plus, seeing a substitute like Saliba make an immediate impact in an emotionally challenging game was extremely reassuring.<\/p>\n\n- Saliba\u2019s style is not a one-for-one swap for Kon\u00e9\u2019s creative playmaking, but he\u2019s an excellent passer and even better defender than his childhood friend<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\ud83d\udc4a In order to defeat Switzerland,<\/strong> a far more technically sound team than either Qatar or Bosnia and Herzegovina, CanMNT will need to balance their newfound offensive firepower with their bread and butter: lockdown defense.<\/p>\n\n- Speaking of, this could mark star defender Alphonso Davies\u2019 return to the pitch \u2014 Canada\u2019s best player missed the first two matches while recovering from a hamstring injury, but is available again today.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u261d\ufe0f One last thing:<\/strong> By rallying after Kon\u00e9\u2019s injury, this team proved they not only have the talent to reach the knockouts, but also the mental fortitude to go where no Canadian men\u2019s team has gone before. This team is playing for something bigger than themselves \u2014 and that may make all the difference.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The GIST: <\/strong>Canada\u2019s inaugural men\u2019s WC win stirred up equal parts joy and heartbreak, as Isma\u00ebl Kon\u00e9 \u2014 one of the squad\u2019s <\/em>top players \u2014 suffered a gruesome leg injury. Now on the precipice of even more history, Canada must keep their eyes on the prize and play with the same tenacity and fervor from their last dub.<\/p>\n \u23ea Let\u2019s reflect on last Thursday\u2019s win against Qatar: <\/strong>It\u2019s hard to overstate just how well things were going for CanMNT. Strikers Cyle Larin and Jonathan David clearly read our last preview<\/a>, coming out hot and scoring three goals in the first half.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc40 That said, today\u2019s opponent, Switzerland, is a far superior team to Qatar. <\/strong>Here are the players who can make a difference and send Canada to the promised land:<\/p>\n Source: Associated Press<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The GIST: <\/strong>Switzerland was the favorite to win Group B before the WC began, but their tourney hasn\u2019t exactly gone as planned. Here\u2019s what you need to know about the Red Crosses.<\/p>\n \u203c\ufe0f Super subs made the difference in their 4\u20131 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina: <\/strong>After Switzerland\u2019s opening match against Qatar ended in an unexpected 1\u20131 draw, the pressure was on the favorites to come out swinging against Bosnia last Thursday.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udd28 But to underestimate is to lose focus <\/strong>\u2014 here are the Swiss players who could cause Canada some trouble:<\/p>\n Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \ud83d\udc4f CanMNT proved they are capable of relentless, physical, and clinical offense in their win over Qatar<\/strong> \u2014 an evolution that\u2019s unfolded since Marsch took the reins. Plus, seeing a substitute like Saliba make an immediate impact in an emotionally challenging game was extremely reassuring.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc4a In order to defeat Switzerland,<\/strong> a far more technically sound team than either Qatar or Bosnia and Herzegovina, CanMNT will need to balance their newfound offensive firepower with their bread and butter: lockdown defense.<\/p>\n \u261d\ufe0f One last thing:<\/strong> By rallying after Kon\u00e9\u2019s injury, this team proved they not only have the talent to reach the knockouts, but also the mental fortitude to go where no Canadian men\u2019s team has gone before. This team is playing for something bigger than themselves \u2014 and that may make all the difference.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udded Switzerland<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\ud83d\udd11 CanMNT\u2019s keys to success<\/h2>\n
<\/p>\n\n
\n