Marsch relishing Canada’s semi clash with Argentina

ARLINGTON, United States: Canada coach Jesse Marsch said his team were relishing the chance to face world champions Argentina in the Copa America semi-finals after Friday´s shock win over Venezuela.

The Canadians won 4-3 on penalties after the quarter-final at the Dallas Cowboys´s AT&T Stadium ended 1-1 after 90 minutes.

Now the team playing in their first ever Copa America tournament have a chance to reach the final -- if they can upset defending champions Argentina in New Jersey on Tuesday.

“We´re going to face the best team in the world in the semi-finals. We´re excited about it,” Marsch said after Friday´s win.

“We´re going to have to play the best game we can play against Argentina and even then it may not be enough,” he said.

But Marsch asserted the team “want to play the game of our lives.”

Canada lost 2-0 to Argentina in their opening group game.

Marsch, the former Leeds United manager, only took charge of Canada in mid-May but his impact was evident in a high-energy, hard pressing performance against Venezuela.

“We were the better team and we deserved to win,” said Marsch, whose team had been able to push Venezuela “to the limit”.

“We believe more and more in ourselves and our confidence is growing,” he added.

Venezuela coach Fernando Batista said his team, who had won all three of their group stage games, had enjoyed a positive tournament despite the loss.

“I leave with anger for losing on penalties, without losing a game in 90 minutes, but I leave proud of my players, who had a tremendous Copa America,” he said.