OverDrive - Kilbane on Canada's defeat to Switzerland, the performance of the squad and Davies' injury status

Episode Date: June 24, 2026

TSN Soccer Analyst Kevin Kilbane joined OverDrive to discuss Canada's defeat to Switzerland in the FIFA World Cup, the performance of the squad, Switzerland's goals in the match, Alphonso Davies' injury status and if he plays in the Round of 32, how the team can excel against South Korea and more.

Catch everything soccer with Bell's game time bundle. Get 5 TV with TSN plus 5150 Internet, all for $99 a month. Price guaranteed for two years with a two-year internet and TV term and auto pay credit. Visit bell.ca for more details and to check availability. Bell, connection is everything. Well, it's a tough match in the end, Switzerland, getting past Canada 2-1. Here's our good friend at TSN footie analyst. Here's Kevin Kilvan.

Kevin, how do you look back on the match this afternoon? Hello? Hey, Kevin, you got us. Sorry, guys, sorry, sorry, sorry. I've just got a lot of the guys around me, James Duffy and Tiba Hutchin are, like, messing around with me here. Sorry about that. Oh, good, that sounds about right. We're used to that.

We know how those two operate. Sorry, guys, sorry, guys. All good. I didn't even hear the question. I didn't hear the question. I'm sorry, guys. Yeah, give us your reaction to the game, losing 2-1 to Switzerland. What do you make of it from Canada's perspective?

Look, obviously good and bad wasn't there in the game. We just spoke about it here now. The hydration break changed the game. for Switzer's point of view because the first half, of the first half, they were really dominating the game. And the changes that were made during that little hydration break, Jesse Marsh was able to get the team change tactically. They started to create some chances. But going in at half time and then conceding so at the start of that second half, I think it took momentum out of Canada. Switzerland then really did start to dominate until the next hydration break.

And then Canada created so many chances. And the goal that was scored was absolutely beautiful. It's a beautiful goal, brilliant by Saliba, incredible finish by Promise David. And I felt then that Canada were going to get back into the game because there was chances created. It wasn't great football, but it was getting the ball into the box, into the penalty area, and causes some problems. So it's sort of bad, as I said, but, you know, I think we'd have taken it at the start,

wouldn't we? Canada getting out of the group we'd have taken it. It's just disappointing that we're not staying in Vancouver and Canada. Kevin, how do you explain the start of the second half? They had so much momentum going. I thought they were getting the better of the quality opportunities and all the momentum and then the start of the second and it was just flat and the game was over.

It seemed like in two or three minutes. Yeah, I think it was eight minutes between the goals and it was that's what changed the game for them. The start of the game, how I would assess it was I thought Canada were probably looking to try to push on and try to get a goal themselves. They left themselves vulnerable defensively and young Luke DeFusierol, who has been just outstanding

considering he's only 20 years of age, Maurice Bombita would be naturally the regular centre half, the main centre half, he's been a great understudy for him. He just got caught out on two goals. He was trying to win the ball, trying to be too aggressive with his movement,

and the quality of Breelam bowl or the Switzerland Centre Ford was able to get it get away. And the second, I mean, the first goal by Vargas as well, it was just probably errors that led for that because everyone got dragged out of position from the initial mistake. And the second goal probably was something similar

before Manzambi scored through Cropole. I think Cropole should have saved it. I think it was a soft goal to concede. But that then took them through to the end. They had the two-goal lead, and they were able to really just see the game through, albeit Canada get themselves back into it somewhat. So you mentioned some adjustments from Jesse Marsh.

What do you think they have to do heading into the next game as far as adjustments? Well, you would hope for the next game, Stefan Isakio is going to be available, because he was a big loss, particularly in Switzerland's midfield today, who have got so much experience. So getting a Staccio back, I think, is a must, first of all, within that. The adjustments itself, let's see if Mouz-Bomito is going to be fit for the second game, or for the knockout game, sorry, let's see if he's available.

There won't be too many adjustments, I don't think, with Jesse Marsh, because Jesse Marsh plays a certain way, which is quite aggressive, it's on the front foot, you want to create chances as quickly as possible on turnovers. So I don't see Jesse Moss changing the style, really, from what he's done through today and through this tournament. So I want to get to Davies in just a moment and what Jesse just said about it after the match. But you mentioned you Stokio, and I thought he looked great when he came in. And we all heard Stevie say, and Caldwell was kind of wondering aloud. Like, why didn't he start?

You know, like you as a former player yourself, Kevin, what would have been the reasoning for a guy that was fit enough to give him 30 plus minutes and look great? Ray, why didn't he start today? Yeah, I think the official line is it was muscle tightness, I believe. But if you sit, the way I look at it, if you're available to sit on the bench, you're available to play. That's it. That's the end. I would actually lie to my coach to tell him I was fit in a World Cup game. I'd be saying, I am ready, I'm available.

I have to start if I was available. That's the way that I would look at this. So it surprises me that he was available to come on and play to the level that he played, that he played at, because he just looked fine. He looked normal when he came on. He actually changed him for Canada because he was able to help that momentum swing go for the last 15, 20 minutes of the game.

So I was very surprised when I saw the lineups today. I'm really surprised that Estacchio had, whether it was Jesse ruled him out, whether it was the medical team or Stefan Astakio himself. We don't know as of yet. But I was so surprised that given he was available to come on, in my opinion, if you're available to come on in a game,

match. You have to start the game. What about Alfonso Davies? Looking at him sitting on the sidelines, Kev, it doesn't look. I was saying a lot of players would be jumping up and down, just kind of excited and almost dying to get in. Do you think, and I know the coach came out and said he should be playing on Sunday, do you think that happens?

Because from watching on the television of him on the sidelines, it doesn't look like he's in any shape or form ready to play a football match. Yeah, the way I look at this one is that, look, again, it's World Cup games, you're desperate to be fit, and if he's making himself available, you have to play him. That's the way that I would look at it. You've got to play Alphonseau-Davis. But, again, I mean, I'm sure there is medical advice from buying Munich as well that Canada soccer have got to consider here, that he can't take the risk with him, considering the extent of the injury that he had.

So, look, I find it a little bit bizarre with it. what's happened around everything around Alfonso Davis, simply put at the start, we all knew he wasn't going to play the first game, yet there was still that thread that was being dangled in front of us. Yeah, he's going to play. He's going to play at some stage. He's going to play at some stage in the group stage. So Jesse Marsh has said he was never going to be available. That was never the plan. So now he's going to be available for the knockout stage. Again, we don't know if that's, if that's been just a line that's been fed to us right now. But if he is fit and he makes yourself available, Jesse simply has to play him. And I would advise that you're playing

me more of an attacking role because Canada is two fullbacks right now. Johnson and LaRaea are playing unbelievably well. With Kevin Kilban, Canada losing 2-1 to Switzerland today. Switzerland wins the group, stays in Vancouver. They play on July 2nd. Canada now has to fly to L.A. They will play on June 28. That's a quick turnaround. Likely South Korea, no guarantees yet. But if it is going to be South Korea in L.A. in four days, Kevin, like how do you see that? match plan out? Well, we've gone from packed stadiums with CETA red everywhere.

Canadian fans, we'll see the opposite there, won't we? It'll be larger South Korean fans if it is Korea. I hope it isn't. I hope the Czech Republic managed to get a win against Mexico and they get out because I would take the Czech Republic, I don't think they're a good side, and I think Canada

would have a serious chance against them. But South Korea play a similar sort of style for Canada. It's high tempo. You'd like to play turnover football, counter-attacking style. So I think it would be a very much a tactical game. Canada probably would dominate the ball more, I would say,

in that game. So it's going to be an interesting scenario, whichever one it is. If you asked me at the start, would you take South Korea in a knockout game? I would have said yes, absolutely. And I definitely take the Czech Republic there or check you. Kevie, before we let you go, have you drank any brown liquor with Stevie

during the tournament after late hours in the evening? I've got to say, I've managed to keep myself very dry while I've been away. And I might have one or two tonight. Yeah, I think it'll be tonight. It could be the night where we just have just two or three. We have a saying, Steve and I, if we go out, we'll just have just a couple, nothing

that. So that's what we'll be doing tonight. Just a couple, nothing that. That's right. Well, I read India a week and a half ago, and I believe that was the plan with you two guys. Just go to check things out. Nothing crazy tonight. I just told there's no video footage.

That's all I'm saying. Absolutely. No VAR on that night tonight, I'm Vancouver. Great stuff, man. You guys are crushing it. Enjoy L.A. Safe travels. We'll do it again soon. Thank you, Kevin. Thank you so much, guys. All the best. All the best, boys. There he is Kevin Kilban. Our TSNFooty analyst, the panel travels south now. Hello, Canada. This is Brian Adams Radio. Hosted by Brian Adams himself. We'll play a few of mine, a ton of my favorites,

and some must-hear behind-the-scenes stories from the world of rock and roll. What's too many get to? One thing about doing rock and roll so long as you end up meeting a lot of the people that you admire. Sometimes you even get to work with him. Brian Adams Radio. Now available on the free IHare Radio app.