Marsch praises ‘heroes’

WORLD CUP: CANADIAN COACH LAUDS HIS TEAM AFTER MAKING THE LAST-16

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Coach Jesse Marsch hailed his “Canadian heroes” for making history by reaching the World Cup last 16 on Sunday, describing their upcoming clash with either the Netherlands or Morocco as a “free hit.”

Co-hosts Canada entered this tournament having lost all six games across two previous World Cup appearances, but are now the first team to reach the second knockout round thanks to a 1-0 win over South Africa.

Marsch gathered his squad on the pitch straight after the last-gasp win to tell the players “you are Canadian heroes” in a bombastic team talk that quickly went viral online.

Speaking to reporters after the game, American Marsch said he had wanted to “voice to them how important a moment this will prove to be for the sport in the country.”