Marsch: Eustaquio did late parents proud

Stephen Eustaquio delivered a moment his late parents would have been proud of, according to Canada coach Jesse Marsch, after the midfielder's dramatic stoppage-time winner sent his team into the World Cup last 16 with a 1-0 victory over South Africa on Sunday.

The 29-year-old settled a cagey affair with a powerful half-volley from outside the penalty area in the second minute of added time, capping what Marsch described as a richly deserved reward for a player who has endured profound personal tragedy.

"I couldn't think of a more deserving human being in a group of incredible human beings," Marsch told reporters after the win in Los Angeles.

"Maybe Steph is the most deserving to have a moment like that. So, I'm really happy for him, and I think, from somewhere, his parents are looking down, and they saw that."

Eustaquio lost both of his parents in little more than a year, his mother in April 2023 and his father in May 2024.

Marsch said Eustaquio embodied the leadership and composure his side had worked to develop.

"Steph is one of the people in the team that I think is the most reliable and understands what we're trying to achieve as a group," he said.

After playing all its previous games in Canada, the American acknowledged that his side had been disappointed to leave after the group stage, but said the move to Los Angeles had not proved disruptive, because his team was accustomed to playing south of the border.

"We're used to playing in the States. We actually play more games in the States than we do in Canada," he said.

Canada will face either Morocco or the Netherlands in Houston on July 4, with Marsch relishing the opportunity to test his side against one of the tournament's big guns, describing Morocco as "a modern giant" and the Dutch as "a traditional giant".

"I feel like it's a free hit, and we're going to go after it and do everything we can to see if we can find a way to get a win," he said.

REUTERS