He didn't want to be on the bench, but he ended up making history. Canada's coach reflects on the World Cup performance

Canada, for a long time, seemed destined for another defeat at the World Cup. Bosnia and Herzegovina took the lead in the 21st minute when Jovo Lukić headed home from a corner kick. The hosts dominated possession but struggled with their finishing. Jonathan David and Tani Oluwaseyi squandered promising opportunities, and goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj repeatedly came to Bosnia's rescue.

The decisive moment arrived late in the game. Coach Jesse Marsch sent Cyle Larin onto the pitch in the 76th minute, a substitution that proved to be a stroke of genius. Larin had barely been on the field for two minutes when he received a pass from Promise David, turned in the box, and unleashed a powerful shot to equalize at 1-1. Toronto Stadium erupted in jubilation as Canada secured a historic entry into football's record books.

"It was something special for me. I was ready to come in and help the team. I thought the goals would come. I score goals when Canada needs me, and it's always been that way," Larin said after the match. The thirty-year-old striker also emphasized that the team must focus on the upcoming games: "We'll be playing at home, and we have to push ourselves to our limits."

Canadian coach Jesse Marsch admitted after the game that his team could have secured all three points. "We had them. We started to press, and the substitutes brought a change to our game. I told them: 'We've got them, now it's time to push.' I'm disappointed with the first half; we weren't aggressive enough. The second half, however, was completely different. We have to learn from today and keep going," declared the American coach.

The manager particularly praised the players who came off the bench. "The substitutes had a big impact on the game's development. However, I need to find a way to get more out of the starting lineup and ensure we perform better from the start of matches. We want the team to be ready from the opening whistle. I feel like I didn't do enough to prepare the players for the first half," Marsch said after the match in Toronto.

The American coach also explained his lineup decisions, including Larin's role as a substitute. "Cyle wasn't thrilled about not starting. We had a brief conversation about it, but I told him he had a great season at Southampton regardless of whether he started or came off the bench. I appreciate that he got into a position where he could score," Marsch stated.

He also commented on the substitution of striker Jonathan David after an hour of play. "Johnny didn't have his best day. It's normal for a player not to always perform at their peak. We'll need him in top form for this tournament, and I believe he'll use this experience to be better in the next game," he added.

Marsch also thanked the home fans who created an excellent atmosphere at Toronto Stadium: "In a difficult moment, we managed to react, and I must also thank the crowd. The fans literally pushed us back into the game with their support."

Bosnian coach Sergej Barbarez considered the draw a fair result. "I'll have to lift the team's spirits again because the players were a bit down after the match. We had a chance to make it 2-0, but at the same time, we were very close to conceding twice. I think a draw is the most realistic outcome. Overall, we were too passive. However, it's a great compliment to my team that they didn't succumb to the pressure in such an environment," stated the Bosnia and Herzegovina coach, according to the official website of the International Football Federation (FIFA).

Canada thus secured their first-ever point after six defeats in World Cup appearances in 1986 and 2022. Their next match will be on June 18 in Vancouver against Qatar. Bosnia's next opponent on the same day will be Switzerland.