Thirty-six years later, Bob Lenarduzzi still laments the scoring chance he missed at the World Cup.
In 1986, bookies were betting heavily on Canada scoring a goal in Mexico. And they were right as the Canadian men lost 1-0 to France and 2-0 to Hungary in their first two tournament outings.
Lenarduzzi came close in Canada’s final Group C game at the Estadio Sergio Leon Chavez in Irapuato from a corner kick against the Soviet Union only to have the ball kicked in the penalty area. Canada was shut out again, losing 2-0 in their tournament final.
“Incredibly lucky,” said Lenarduzzi, a defender by trade.
“It was a terrible effort,” he added with a laugh.
“By now I will have people, older people, saying ‘You cost me a few bucks. If you had scored there, I would have done well.’ Whoever scores that first goal for Canada — and somebody’s going to do it in Qatar — they don’t know, but they should be thanking me for that honor. Because I should have scored.”
There were other occasions at the time.
Against France, a header by Ian Bridge was off target from a free kick by Mike Sweeney. And a shot from Igor Vrablic was cleared by a defender after French keeper Joel Bats was caught on his goal line.
But Canada is still awaiting its first score at the men’s soccer showcase.
“It wasn’t a big deal for the team,” said striker Dale Mitchell, who was part of the 1986 World Cup squad. “I know the bettors said we wouldn’t score. no goal and I guess they ended up getting it right.
“But I think we were just there playing games and not really thinking like, ‘If we score a goal and lose all three games, it will be kind of a success. You try to compete as best you can and do your best to achieve a result.
“I think in all three games it wasn’t like we didn’t get close to the opposing goal. It’s just that scoring at this level is definitely a challenge. We couldn’t do it this time there, but it’s not like there. there were no opportunities there.”
Canada has weapons at its disposal to go to Qatar. Cyle Larin has 25 goals for Canada while Jonathan David has 22, Lucas Cavallini 17, Junior Hoilett 14 and Alphonso Davies 12.
“It was great to see… There’s a lot of firepower in the team,” Mitchell, who has scored 19 international goals, said of the Canadian attack. “There’s a lot of pace in the team. Probably more than we would have had in 1986 in that regard. And maybe as much as we’ve ever had. It’ll be fun to watch, that’s sure.”
Midfielder Jonathan Osorio, who has seven Canadian goals to his name, says scoring in Qatar is just one step towards a bigger goal.
“Of course it will be very special for the country when we score our first goal,” he said. “You will really be remembered forever. But I don’t think that’s really the goal. The goal is to get the first win. That’s what we’re looking forward to.
“For us, it doesn’t matter who scores as long as someone does and we are able to win the game. I think people are looking forward to the first win more than the first goal.”
Canada had talent on offense in 1986. Mitchell, Vrablic and George Pakos scored nine of Canada’s 11 qualifying goals.
Mitchell was 28 when the tournament started while Vrablic was 20.
“I think Dale, like (captain) Bruce (Wilson), back when we are (now) would be a very good player in MLS and potentially abroad as well,” Lenarduzzi said. “And Igor was a brash young man. He wasn’t really overwhelmed at the moment. He was quite confident, potentially arrogant, but I think that’s what made him a good player.”
Mitchell’s preparation for the World Cup was derailed when he injured his anterior cruciate ligament before the final qualifying round. He was injured while playing for Canada against English side Everton on tour in 1985 at Varsity Stadium in Toronto.
“In 1983, 1984, 1985 I was playing pretty much all the time,” said Mitchell, who went on to coach the national team from 2007 to 2009. “And then I was coming back from that injury. I was ready to play in 1986, but I didn’t start until the third match against Russia.”
“I played one game out of three, I would have liked to have played three,” he added.
Canada’s Group F opponents in Qatar are no strangers to scoring at the World Cup, particularly Belgium (2nd) and Croatia (12th).
Croatia outscored their opponents 14-9 at the 2018 World Cup, losing 4-2 to France in the final. Belgium finished third in Russia, with a 16-6 lead in goals. Morocco, currently ranked 22nd in the world, failed to qualify for the first round and were outscored 4-2 in three matches.
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