Jesse Marsch has praised Canada for their "willingness" during a "fast learning curve" after they booked a place in the Copa America semi-final. (More Football News)
Les Rouges earned a 4-3 penalty 𒆙shootout win over Ven𒊎ezuela after Salomon Rondon had cancelled out Jacob Shaffelburg's opener as the match finished 1-1 in normal time.
Maxime Crepeau then saved two ജpenalties before it went to sudden death, and Ismael Kone scored the decisive spot-kick to 💟send them into the next round.
After a poor string of results at the start of Marsch's tenure, Canada were tipped to m♉ake an early exit during their maiden Copa America.
However, they have defied the odds, and the American credited the spirit of his squad𓃲 for pu🐻shing them forward.
"All the things that I know about them now, I sensed back then; their commitment, ඣtheir desire, their willingness to learn," Marsch said.
💜"All of that has led to bigger belief and self-confidence.
"It's a very athletic team. It's a very fast team. I've tried to build in the right kinღd of aggression for them to go after opponents, to go after big games and to beli❀eve in how we're building this.
"Their commitment to try tꦆo learn, their belief in what I'm doing with them is very, very high. They're capable because they're athletic, because they're strong, because they're young.
"We've seen an incredibly fast learning curve, but it's because theꦿy're excited about playing this way, and they're excitedও about what we're trying to achieve together."
Captain Alphonso Davies was onꦯe of the players who stepped up during the shoot-out as he picked out the top corner with the penultimate penalty, knowing a miss would have sent them home.
After seeing a tame penalty saved in a defeat against Belgium in the 2022 World Cup, Davies was pleased to replace that memory with something more pꩵositive.
"Obviously, I had flashbacks to the World Cup, but I did not let that get to me. I knew where I wanted to go before I wa🍷lked up to the ball," Davies told 🅺Canadian broadcaster TSN.
"It🌼's going to take everything. We played them in the group stage. We played well but didn't get the win we wanted."
Canada will face Argentina in the semi-final at MetLife Stadium on Tuesday, having los♚t th♊eir tournament opener to the Albiceleste 2-0.
