For Luc de Fougerolles, this looked like more than a solid night. It looked like a timely intervention. The 20-year-old appears to have given Marsch a genuine selection call, especially with Moise Bombito reportedly still being managed carefully after injury.
De Fougerolles also sounded ready for the moment. “I got 90 minutes for the first time in a few months. It was tough but I was definitely happy to get through it,” he said. Then came the line every coach wants to hear before a tournament opener: “I’m definitely ready.”
If Marsch wants calm distribution and cleaner defensive transitions, de Fougerolles may have moved himself from useful depth piece to serious option.
Another positive, the report says, came from Ismael Kone. Marsch called him “an X-factor for us,” and that matters because Canada need someone who can turn possession into momentum.
Kone’s value is not only energy. It is rhythm. He can carry the ball, press aggressively and help link midfield to attack - precisely the areas where Canada have sometimes looked rushed rather than ruthless.
That remains the concern. The update says Canada had 20 attempts against Ireland but only two on target, and their equaliser came through an own goal. For all the promise in build-up play, the finishing still appears blunt.
That leaves Marsch with a familiar dilemma:
Marsch is clearly trying to keep belief high. “We’ve got to score some goals, but we will,” he said. “We have firepower. I know that.” Now Canada need that confidence to show up where it matters most - in front of goal on Friday.