No fear: How Buchanan epitomizes Canada's motto at Copa America

Tajon Buchanan and Canada's men's national team have a simple mantra heading into this summer's Copa America: No fear.

Canada's path to the tournament wasn't straightforward, qualifying via a play-in after failing to secure an automatic berth. After beating Trinidad & Tobago in March, Canada got lumped into a tough group featuring reigning World Cup champ Argentina and a certain Lionel Messi.

But even with the odds stacked against them heading into the tournament's opening match in Atlanta, Buchanan is embracing the opportunity to display his talents and show that Canada - making its Copa America debut - can hang with the world's very best.

"We're going to go out there with no fear and compete," the 25-year-old told theScore when asked about Canada's approach under new coach Jesse Marsch. "It doesn't matter who we're playing against, we're not going to go and sit back and be passive or anything like that. We're really going to be on the front foot and then go and show who we are and play with personality."

That attitude helped Canada reach new heights in recent years. It was key in the country's successful bid to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, returning to the tournament after a 36-year absence. And it's come in handy recently, too, as Canada earned praise after an admirable draw against France in its final pre-Copa America friendly earlier in June.

The goalless contest was the second of Canada's two tune-up games after falling 4-0 against the Netherlands days prior. Canada's lopsided defeat in Rotterdam was partly due to a 13-minute dip in play that resulted in the Dutch scoring three goals to nullify Canada's impressive first-half display.

"You obviously want to play against the best, and to go out and play that first game against the Netherlands, we took some experience and lessons from that game," Buchanan said. "Obviously, we played a very good first half and then obviously (a) not so great second half.

"Going into that France game, we wanted to stay focused for 90-plus minutes and give them a game. And show them who Canada is and go out and just show our style of play. I think we showed that, and obviously came away with a positive result, and I gained some confidence going into Copa America."

Canada's two friendlies gave Buchanan his first chance to familiarize himself with new national team coach Marsch. Buchanan only ever knew John Herdman as his international manager. Herdman gave Buchanan his first cap in 2021 and relied heavily on him at the 2022 World Cup, where he was arguably Canada's top performer; Buchanan set up Canada's historic first goal at a men's World Cup.

With Herdman gone - leaving in 2023 to join Toronto FC - Marsch ushers in a new era with his own philosophies and tactics. Despite arriving only two months before Copa America, early signs suggest Canada may be on the ascent again after a period of transition and uncertainty. The American's impact - specifically in organizing Canada's defense to withstand sustained pressure like it did against France - and messaging about team attitude has been clear and signals to Buchanan the program's headed in the right direction.

"Super excited to work under (Marsch)," Buchanan said. "Obviously, it's going to be very good for the future of (Canadian soccer)."

This summer will be the culmination of a whirlwind six months for the native of Brampton, Ontario. Buchanan fulfilled a lifelong dream by joining one of European football's biggest teams, signing for Italian champions Inter Milan in January after an influential spell at Club Brugge in Belgium.

"So far in Italy, my time's been amazing," he said. "Everyone's helped me adapt. (It's) obviously everything that I dreamed of as a kid, to be able to share the pitch with some of the best players in the world that play for a big club. It's happening."

Buchanan, the only Canadian man to ever play in Serie A, worked his way into manager Simone Inzaghi's rotation after acclimating to his new surroundings, and realized another career milestone when he scored his first goal for the club in May. His strike against Frosinone, where he carried the ball from the halfway line, cut inside to beat his marker, and curled a pinpoint effort to the far post was reminiscent of his favorite personal goal with the national team.

"I scored and the whole stadium just went silent," he said of his tally in the 2021 Gold Cup semifinals against Mexico, a match played in front of 50,000 boisterous fans - most of them supporting Mexico - at Houston's NRG Stadium.

Buchanan hopes things unfold similarly in Atlanta when Canada takes on Argentina in a game likely to feature a partisan crowd packed with Messi and Argentina supporters.

The enormity of the task isn't lost on Buchanan; few have subdued Messi and Argentina in the last four years - they've hoisted Copa America and World Cup titles in that time. But Buchanan, who displays the type of confidence and speed on the pitch needed to engineer big upsets, says his team is "excited and ready to go out and show who we are" against Argentina, Chile, and Peru in Group A.

Quiet and reserved off the pitch, Buchanan is described by one of his first coaches, Chrys Chrysanthou, as someone who'll run through a brick wall when he steps onto the field. At Copa America, Buchanan intends to leave a lasting impression on those unfamiliar with his game.

Regardless of the final score, come the final whistle against Argentina, everyone who watched will remember that Buchanan showed no fear against the most illustrious opposition.