Thirty-six years later, Bob Lenarduzzi still laments the scoring chance he missed at the World Cup.
In 1986, the bookmakers laid long odds on Canada getting a goal in Mexico. And they were proved right as the Canadian men lost 1-0 to France and 2-0 to Hungary in their first two outings at the tournament.
Lenarduzzi came close in CanadaB次元官网网址檚 final Group C game at Estadio Sergio Leon Chavez in Irapuato, on a corner against the Soviet Union, only to have the ball squib off his foot in the penalty box. Canada was blanked again, losing 2-0 in its tournament finale.
B次元官网网址淎n unbelievable chance,B次元官网网址� said Lenarduzzi, a defender by trade.
B次元官网网址淚t was a terrible effort,B次元官网网址� he added with a laugh.
B次元官网网址淭o this day I will have people, older people that is, say B次元官网网址榊ou cost me a few bucks. If you had scored there, I would have done all right.B次元官网网址� Whoever scores that first goal for Canada B次元官网网址� and someoneB次元官网网址檚 going to do it in Qatar B次元官网网址� they donB次元官网网址檛 know it, but they should thank me for them having that honour. Because I should have scored.B次元官网网址�
There were other chances back in the day.
Against France, an Ian Bridge header was off-target from a Mike Sweeney free kick. And an Igor Vrablic shot was cleared away by a defender after French goalie Joel Bats was caught off his goal line.
But Canada is still waiting for its first score at the menB次元官网网址檚 soccer showcase.
B次元官网网址淚t wasnB次元官网网址檛 a big thing for the team,B次元官网网址� said forward Dale Mitchell, who was on the B次元官网网址�86 World Cup squad. B次元官网网址淚 know the oddsmakers had said we wouldnB次元官网网址檛 score a goal and I guess they ended up getting it right.
B次元官网网址淏ut I think we were just out there playing the games and not really thinking like B次元官网网址業f we score one goal and lose all three games, this is going to be some sort of success.B次元官网网址� YouB次元官网网址檙e trying to compete as best you can and do your best to get a result.
B次元官网网址淚 think in all three games it wasnB次元官网网址檛 like we didnB次元官网网址檛 get anywhere near the opposition goal. ItB次元官网网址檚 just that scoring at that level is definitely a challenge. We werenB次元官网网址檛 able to do it that time but itB次元官网网址檚 not like there wasnB次元官网网址檛 some opportunities there.B次元官网网址�
Canada has weapons at its disposal going into Qatar. Cyle Larin has 25 goals for Canada while Jonathan David has 22, Lucas Cavallini 17, Junior Hoilett 14 and Alphonso Davies 12.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been great to see B次元官网网址� ThereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of firepower in the team,B次元官网网址� Mitchell, who scored 19 international goals, said of the Canadian attack. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of pace in the team. Probably more than we would have had in B次元官网网址�86 in that regard. And maybe as much as weB次元官网网址檝e ever had. ItB次元官网网址檒l be fun to watch, for sure.B次元官网网址�
Midfielder Jonathan Osorio, who has seven Canada goals to his credit, says scoring in Qatar is just a step to a greater goal.
B次元官网网址淥f course that will be very special to the country when we get our first goal,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e going to be remembered forever really. But I donB次元官网网址檛 think thatB次元官网网址檚 really the focus. The focus is getting the first win. ThatB次元官网网址檚 what weB次元官网网址檙e looking forward to.
B次元官网网址淔or us it really doesnB次元官网网址檛 matter who scores as long as somebody does it and weB次元官网网址檙e able to win the game. I think people are more looking forward to the first win rather than just the first goal.B次元官网网址�
Canada had talent up front in 1986. Mitchell, Vrablic and George Pakos accounted for nine of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 11 goals in qualifying.
Mitchell was 28 when the tournament began while Vrablic was 20.
B次元官网网址淚 think Dale, like (captain) Bruce (Wilson), in this time that weB次元官网网址檙e in (now) would be a very good player in MLS and potentially abroad as well,B次元官网网址� said Lenarduzzi. B次元官网网址淎nd Igor was a brash young guy. He wasnB次元官网网址檛 really overwhelmed by the moment. He was quite confident, potentially bordered on arrogant but thatB次元官网网址檚 I think what made him a good player.B次元官网网址�
MitchellB次元官网网址檚 preparation for the World Cup was derailed when he injured his anterior cruciate ligament injury in advance of the final round of qualifying. He was hurt playing for Canada against touring English side Everton in 1985 at TorontoB次元官网网址檚 Varsity Stadium.
B次元官网网址淚n 1983, B次元官网网址�84, B次元官网网址�85, I was pretty much playing all the time,B次元官网网址� said Mitchell, who went on to coach the national team from 2007 to B次元官网网址�09. B次元官网网址淎nd then I was coming back from this injury. I was ready to play in B次元官网网址�86 but I didnB次元官网网址檛 actually get a start until the third game against Russia.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 played one game out of three, I wish that I would have played three,B次元官网网址� he added.
CanadaB次元官网网址檚 Group F opponents in Qatar are no strangers to scoring at the World Cup, especially No. 2 Belgium and No. 12 Croatia.
Croatia outscored its opposition 14-9 at the 2018 World Cup, losing 4-2 to France in the final. Belgium finished third in Russia, with a 16-6 edge in goals. Morocco, currently ranked 22nd in the world, did not make it out of the opening round, and was outscored 4-2 in three matches.
Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
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