1986 World Cup - Canada 0 France 1

[River City]

Does anyone have a link to newspaper match report?

[Bill Ault]

quote:Originally posted by River City

Does anyone have a link to newspaper match report?

I have clippings here somewhere... I'll scan them if I find them for you. In the meantime an article from the CBC site a few years back:

Looking back at Canada's trip to the World Cup

WebPosted Tue, 20 Aug 2002 12:06:16 EDT

CBC Sports

BY John F. Molinaro, CBC Sports Online

While the 1986 World Cup will always be remembered for Maradona's "Hand of God" goal, that year's tournament also holds a special place in the hearts of Canadian soccer fans.

It was 16 years ago that Canada made its first and only foray into the shark-infested waters of the World Cup.

Hot and muggy Mexico was the site of Canada's field of dreams, playing in a group with pre-tournament favourites France, Russia and Hungary.

Up first for the Canadians was the daunting task of playing the French, who four years earlier lost to West Germany in the semifinals.

CBC World Cup analyst Bob Lenarduzzi was a member of Canada's national team in 1986 and recently reminisced about his experiences in Mexico.

"I can vividly remember the first game against France," says Lenarduzzi. "I can remember standing in the tunnel across from [Michel] Platini, [Jean] Tigana and [Jean Pierre] Papin. We'd all watched these guys play on television, and they were one of the favourites to win the World Cup in 1986."

Many critics believed the French would simply toy with Canada before destroying them by putting in four or five goals. Remarkably, the game turned out to be anything but a cakewalk for Les Bleus.

"Prior to the game it was a question of how many we were going to lose by," remembers Lenarduzzi. "I remember looking down their line and thinking to myself, 'Wow, this is a pretty good team.'"

Lenarduzzi recalls a funny moment before the game while both teams stood in the tunnel waiting to walk out on the field.

"Bruce Wilson was our captain, and Platini was their captain, and while we were in the tunnel, Platini looked over at Bruce and said, 'Toronto Blizzard, right?' Platini was with [italian club] Juventus at the time, and he recognized Bruce from a couple of exhibition games that they played against each other. Bruce was totally blown away that Platini remembered him"

Lenarduzzi nearly put Canada at a decided disadvantage during the opening minutes of the game.

"There was an incident early on in the game where looking back at it now I should have been called for a penalty. I just bowled over one of their guys in the box. That was about four minutes in, and I had this horrible feeling when I knocked him over, but luckily the referee didn't call it."

After soaking up the French pressure, Canada launched its own attack. They pinned France back in its half of the field and came close to scoring on several occasions. To this day, Canadian soccer fans still talk about how Ian Bridge hit the goal post with a header that could have given Canada a shocking lead.

But according to Lenarduzzi, Bridge's header didn't even glance the post.

"Ian headed it and from the television angle it looked like it hit the post, but it actually hit the field board behind the goal. It really looked deceiving because when we came back everybody said we hit the post, and we didn't."

France took control of the game, but Canada stood firm in repelling the French attack before eventually conceding a goal in the 78th minute.

"We hung in there early because they had two or three chances right off the bat, but they didn't score. Then the game settled down, and we had a run in the first half where we played quite well."

Even at the end of it all, their goal didn't come from a flurry of pressure. The game was even at that point. We were going back and forth, and unfortunately [goalkeeper] Paul Dolan, who had played very well, misjudged a cross and Papin had an easy tap-in."

Canada lost 1-0 to the French, but acquitted itself very well with a strong game - so much so that Lenarduzzi counts the game against France as one of the highlights of his soccer career, as Canada proved that it could compete against the world's best.

"We went out and played well, and it was one of the best experiences that I've ever had as a player. Being out there and being in the game with 12 minutes to go and the score 0-0, that was unbelievable."

Unfortunately, Canada couldn't build on the momentum it had from the game against France. It dropped its games against Hungary and Russia and crashed out of the tournament without scoring a single goal.

Nevertheless, Lenarduzzi still looks back at his memories from the tournament with a great deal of fondness and pride

"It was a very special feeling. I remember even further back when we actually qualified when we were in St. John's, Newfoundland and beat Honduras. I remember at the end of that game realizing that this was a dream I had as a kid."

Current Canadian team captain Jason de Vos was 12 years old when Canada played at the 1986 World Cup and remembers watching the games live on television.

"It was amazing. I remember vividly watching the France game and thinking how close we actually came to pulling off the shock of the tournament. So that's something that I've always kept with me - wanting to get to that level. Every player in the world wants to play in the World Cup."

"I realize how special an achievement that was. I've tried to get there myself, and it's very difficult to do."

[River City]

Thanks Bill.

Much appreciated.

[harding]

I remember is sitting at home watching the game on the CBC in my parents basement. I was 17. This was way before the days of soccer games generally being shown in this country on TV. So it was big deal to see the CBC carrying the World Cup game with Canada in it.

But I also remeber thing "Why isn't Tino starting" and "Who the hell is Paul Dolan". If anyone knows why Waiters started a 20 year old over a proven international keeper like Tino Lettieri let me know. I think we could have tied France that day with the experience that Tino had. The goal France scored that day was terrible. As I remember, a cross that went across the 6 yard box, that Dolan seemed to forget about. He looked at it and had a 20 year old brain fart.

so close, yet so far...

[River City]

I was 10 years old (a week shy of 11), had been in Canada for 7 months and had a vague awareness that Canada had made it. I was excited that Portugal had finally qualified for the first time since '66 and was euphoric when we beat England. Then in typical Portuguese style the players demanded money from the FA, and the whole thing degenerated into a mess culminating in a 3-1 loss to Morocco. But, watching the Argentina - England game and Diego's second goal made up for any disappointment.

Now I'm trying to make up for lost time by trying to go back and look at Canadian soccer history from the time of my arrival in the great white north.

[sstackho]

quote:Originally posted by harding

If anyone knows why Waiters started a 20 year old over a proven international keeper like Tino Lettieri let me know.

Wasn't it that Lettieri was taking place in the finals of the North American indoor soccer league at that time, which caused him to miss the first match of the World Cup? (Not sure - hopefully someone can confirm...)

[Dante79]

Man I was only 6 yrs ols at the time, so obiously I dont remember, just hope that one day not too far I'll be able to see the Maple Leaf at a WC

[harding]

quote:Originally posted by sstackho

Wasn't it that Lettieri was taking place in the finals of the North American indoor soccer league at that time, which caused him to miss the first match of the World Cup? (Not sure - hopefully someone can confirm...)

Pretty sure Tino was on the bench. (The NASL I think was dead by 86 and half the team played indoors or weren't even under a pro contract)After the France game, Tino played the remaining 2 games.

Strange coaching decision number two was that Branko Segota sat on the bench for the most part. Don't forget that Branko was a natural goalscorer in the old NASL. He was the North American of the Year in 84 before becoming an indoor legend(And after Bunbury probably our most natural gifted scorer). Instead Carl Valentine played in his place. Never understood that one, as we became the first team NOT to score at the World Cup. If my memory serves me right and maybe Bill can remember this as well, but there was some noise being made that Branko wasn't a Port Coquitlam boy (wasn't half the team from BC?) and that his last name was British enough.

We can bitch about not getting to the World Cup again, but at least in my mind, we're not playing 11 men behind the ball at all times, with the odd long searching ball to Bunbury anymore.

..for the most part...

[matthew]

There was a rift with some of the indoor guys who missed the pre-WC tune ups or weren't as available as Waiters would have liked. In any event Dolan played six of the seven run-up games (including England) with Sven Habermann getting the other one. I believe Lettieri was with Minnesota of the MISL and missed some of the tuneups, but Mitchell and some of the other MISL guys made it. This was also a factor in the constant Branko Segota saga and it's worth noting Mitchell didn't start against France either.

Now I was nine at the time, so this is just what I remember from what I've read after the fact.

Dolan had played well leading up to the game and besides that cross, played well in the game.

cheers,

matthew

[Treppy]

Wasn't it that Lettieri was taking place in the finals of the North American indoor soccer league at that time, which caused him to miss the first match of the World Cup? (Not sure - hopefully someone can confirm...)

[Alberto7]

Ah, what terrific memories this brings back.

This was the first game I ever saw the Nats play. I had bought the "Canadian Edition" of a World Cup magazine which listed all the teams and gave a brief writeup on each team and listed all the qualifying game results. The Canadian Edition meant that they had pictures of all the Canadian players and pictures of Canada in action in the qualifying games and friendlies that proceeded the World Cup. I remember vividly a shot of Dominic Mobilio playing in a friendly against Uruguay(Uruguay 3 Canada 1, if memory serves me). When the WC started I had read up on the players and had an idea of who was who. I lent this magazine to someone years ago and they moved away and never gave it back to me.

I watched the game on CBC (I was 25 at the time) and was so jazzed up that I asked for a Team Canada jersey for my birthday . We had 6 Brazilians apprenticing at the National Film Board (where I work) so all we talked about was soccer and the WC. This is when I first fell in love with the game.

IIRC, the media said that the reason Tino didn't play is that he hadn't seen any outdoor action in some time(having played in the MISL all year) and Waiters did not feel he was fit to play.

BTW, I got a copy of the game last year and it was wonderful to see it again.

[Guest Jeffery S.]

I think that game report favours Canada a bit; I recall we really did not carry the weight of the game at any moment, or at least not effectively. Though we did have scoring chances, and probably deserved a point just on the basis of guts and our ability to control the excellent French side.

The French were very critical of the Canadian style afterwards, insultingly so, but it was their responsiblity, as European champs and one of the favourites, to carry the game and make things happen. They were frustrated they could not, and that was certainly to our credit.

I was one of many fans frustrated by the lack of time for Branko, who was our best scoring threat. He deserved more time on the pitch.

True, Dolan blew it, a bad mistake. But considering how many balls were coming in I prefer to write it off as an error that could happen, only at a very bad time.

[Daniel]

I saw the game 2 years ago. While we never came close to scoring (and did *not* hit the post), we did play better than France for long stretches.

[harding]

quote:Originally posted by Jeffrey S.

I think that game report favours Canada a bit; I recall we really did not carry the weight of the game at any moment, or at least not effectively. Though we did have scoring chances, and probably deserved a point just on the basis of guts and our ability to control the excellent French side.

The French were very critical of the Canadian style afterwards, insultingly so, but it was their responsiblity, as European champs and one of the favourites, to carry the game and make things happen. They were frustrated they could not, and that was certainly to our credit.

I was one of many fans frustrated by the lack of time for Branko, who was our best scoring threat. He deserved more time on the pitch.

True, Dolan blew it, a bad mistake. But considering how many balls were coming in I prefer to write it off as an error that could happen, only at a very bad time.

At the time I was so happy that we made the French look so bad. I recall the British announcers having a good laugh at that and praising Canada's work ethic and drive. And it was up to the French to raise the game and they couldn't.

I personally think France is the most overated soccer nation on the planet. If not for the influx of African and Arabic players they'd be on par with Belgium. And Canada on that day, like Senegal many years later, proved that. (sorry but I've had to sit through one to many French coaches wax on about how wonderful the French system is and I remember laughing my head off listening to Holger Osiek talk about the French system and how they talk about "team play over the individual" and as he said it "Without Zidane, the french don't win anything" so much for the "vaunted socialist system of play", Osiek could be funny at times)

Looking back it did more for Canadian soccer than any other game. It brought respect internationally and set the bar for National program for years to come. Had the CSL be able to sustain itself, Canada after 86 was in position to become a regular visitor to the World Cup.

But by 1990 it was all gone. and 16 year later we're still struggling to find that glory....

[The Ref]

As far as I know Waiters did not get along with Lettieri and that may have been the reason why he chose bumbling Dolan. He also did not play Pakos who was the scoring hero at the time.

[Daniel]

quote:Originally posted by harding

I personally think France is the most overated soccer nation on the planet. If not for the influx of African and Arabic players they'd be on par with Belgium. And Canada on that day, like Senegal many years later, proved that.

I can't imagine how Canada would do without their "influx" of so-and-so players (born in Canada, as the French players are mostly born in France and French territories). Thank god Senegal had those French players on that day...

[harding]

quote:Originally posted by Daniel

I can't imagine how Canada would do without their "influx" of so-and-so players (born in Canada, as the French players are mostly born in France and French territories). Thank god Senegal had those French players on that day...

And if you look at 2002. They matched Canada's record of not scoring a single goal at World Cup. And with the talent on hand- another example of France being overrated. And lets not mention the Platini generation who are the poster boys of underachievement.

I've had to sit through years of LSEQ coaching clinics and had to listen to guys from Nice or Hicksville France wax on about how superior the French system is to the rest of Europe- all based on one World Cup and a system developed by Yugoslavians. And the things they'd say about Canadian soccer weren't very flattering as well. We're just provicial idiots with no clue.

Yet in 2002, they didn't do any better than we did in 86. And based on desire, courage and heart- I think we thumped them in 86. I'm not a fan of French football as you see.

Watching two French teams play each other is death warmed over. All that skill, with no heart or passion. Robots. I'll take a Middlesboro vs. Blackburn game any day.

When was the last time anyone saw a French player get stuck in besides Cantona?

[Daniel]

Technically, with their scoreless draw, then matched out Confed Cup record .

[Soju]

Thanks for your insight harding it's a good read.

[Guest Jeffery S.]

quote:Originally posted by harding

And if you look at 2002. They matched Canada's record of not scoring a single goal at World Cup. And with the talent on hand- another example of France being overrated. And lets not mention the Platini generation who are the poster boys of underachievement.

I've had to sit through years of LSEQ coaching clinics and had to listen to guys from Nice or Hicksville France wax on about how superior the French system is to the rest of Europe- all based on one World Cup and a system developed by Yugoslavians. And the things they'd say about Canadian soccer weren't very flattering as well. We're just provicial idiots with no clue.

Yet in 2002, they didn't do any better than we did in 86. And based on desire, courage and heart- I think we thumped them in 86. I'm not a fan of French football as you see.

Watching two French teams play each other is death warmed over. All that skill, with no heart or passion. Robots. I'll take a Middlesboro vs. Blackburn game any day.

When was the last time anyone saw a French player get stuck in besides Cantona?

Have to say it is one thing to have a rivalry based on a certain moment, another to downplay that French side. They were very unlucky to fall to an inferior German side 4 years earlier, won the Eurocup in 84, were cocky but still marvellous in 86. The French have never played a tight-fisted style, and Platini was wonderful, as were many of them. A much more talented, interesting team than the Italian one that won the world cup in Spain, for example, look at that squad and you just shake your head, some real mediocrity there.

So I prefer not to mix my irritation with French attitude that World Cup after our game with a general view of their contribution to the game, which has been overwhelmingly positive in many respects.

[Start fan in exile]

I remember that France-Germany game in '82 - perhaps not the best soccer match ever, but that overtime was probably the most exiting thing I have ever seen. It was a disappointing world cup - I was so hoping for France vs. Brasil; Platini vs. Zico in the final. Instead we got Italy vs. Germany...

[River City]

Being 6 or 7 in 82 when France playing Germany, I remember my older brother gsetting upset at Schumacher when he knocked out Battiston. I never saw the original hit, but they replayed it to death. It was sad, but funny when you're that young.

I also remember him in a bad mood when Brasil lost to Italy. Sad, sad day.

[Duane Rollins1555362254]

no one knows who i am or how this got posted here...

quote: Canada almost pulls off a miracle in Cup opener

By Mary Ormsby Toronto Star

LEON, Mexico - Canada's soccer miracle, a dream for 28 years,

failed to unfold here in its first ever World Cup game

yesterday.

Mighty France, a favorite in the 24-nation tournament,

struggled to dispatch Canada, 1-0, before a crowd of about

15,000 at Leon's Nuo Camp Stadium.

A 79th-minute goal from French striker Jean-Pierre Papin, who

all through the match had not been able to hit the side of a

casa, dashed Canadian hopes to upset the 1984 European

champions.

However, only the score made Canada a loser.

France 1, Canada 0

The plucky 1,000 to 1 longshots, who finally qualified for the

Cup last summer after 28 years of trying, played an exceptional

game, repeatedly foiling the French and creating the most

entertaining soccer thus far in the 52-game tournament.

Canadian coach Tony Waiters said despite the loss, Canada's

World Cup debut was an undeniable success.

"That match proved that Canada has the capacity of going

against the best nations in the world," he said. "France is one

of the best in the world and the battling Canadians showed they

have every right to be there."

French captain and midfielder Michel Platini said the

Canadians had panicked them after the goalless first half.

"We were doubting ourselves a bit after the first half. We

knew that Canada had nothing to lose," Platini said.

"I was a little bit angry. I haven't felt that mad in nearly

two years. Maybe I'm getting old."

Timing mistake

Papin's goal was a result of a timing mistake by Canadian

keeper Paul Dolan, who at 20 is the youngest goalie in the World

Cup.

He jumped to stop a cross from French midfielder Thierry

Tusseau, but missed it. Substituting striker Yannick Stopyra

headed the ball to Papin, who was standing on the goalline. With

Dolan out of position in the far left corner, all Papin did was

head the ball into the net.

"It was a long ball into the far post that Dolan appeared to

have," Waiters said. "He made a decision to flick it out and

(for a corner kick) he misjudged it and it went over his

outstretched arm. It was one of the very few mistakes he made.

It's rather unfortunate."

Canada dominated the attack in the first half, taking

advantage of coach Henri Michel's overconfident French squad.

Just 11 minutes into the match, French goalkeeper Joel Bats left

his net during a scramble before the goalmouth.

Canadian striker Igor Vrablic trapped the ball and quickly

fired it at what should have been an empty French net. However,

French defender Maxime Bossis jumped into Bats' spot and headed

out Vrablic's shot.

Canadian striker Carl Valentine booted back Bossis' cleared

ball, which the Frenchman headed straight up until Bats finally

caught it.

Irriated French

The Canadians also manhandled the French to perfection, which

irritated their smaller opponents to no end, especially Platini

and striker Dominique Rocheteau.

Canadian centre backs Ian Bridge and Randy Samuel, when they

weren't winning most of the headers coming their way, were

setting a type of basketball pick on Platini, Rocheteau and

Papin. Bridge and Samuel would let the French take a pass far up

field but would stand direclty behind them. Repeatedly, the

French would turn and step into the Canadians and several times

lost the ball.

The Canadian midfield also shone. Paul James was like a

terrier hounding his French counterpart Jean Tigana, making him

look half asleep at times. James, playing inside, intercepted

Tigana's passes and tackled him outright to gain turnovers. Mike

Sweeney and David Norman, who started for injured Gerry Gray at

outside right, were tenacious tacklers.

Adding to the Gallic frustration was the ineptitude of Papin,

who played like he had cataracts. He was abysmal, missing three

scoring opportunities. In the second half, he missed the open

left corner of Dolan's net by two feet from a close range pass

from Rocheteau, then blasted a clear ball from defender Patrick

Battiston off the crossbar.

Papin also missed an open left corner with no Canadian

defenders to stop him 17 minutes into the game.

Dolan would have been beaten on those three shots, but he was

solid otherwise, especially in the second half, when France

picked up their attack. He stopped kicks from midfielder Alain

Gireffe and Battiston without a bobble and batted away several

dangerous looping shots over the crossbar to safety.

Michel said he didn't know much about the Canadians prior to

the match, but he was impressed by their aggressive physical

style.

"I admired the Canadian resistance. They had good defence

during the whole match."

[Duane Rollins1555362254]

Another:

quote:

Canada's loss a near-triumph

by Wayne Parrish Toronto Star

LEON, Mexico - In the empty moments after the dream had died,

a little big man accepted the jersey of another little big man,

glanced at it before he drew it over his own body and shook his

head in wonder and sadness.

"The front of it wasn't even soaked through," Mike Sweeney a

5-foot-7 bundle of midfield energy, said of the sweater handed

him by the 5-foot-6 legend, Alain Giresse. "There were just a

couple of perspiration marks on the armpits. Seeing that was a

bit deflating for me."

Elsewhere in the seething, humid room, adjacent to Estadio Nuo

Camp, the other disappointed dreamers were speaking, in softly

resilient tones, of how their fitness had almost seen them

through. Declared latecomer Branko Segota of the mighty French,

"They were very vulnerable. I think they were very tired at

the end."

In a few cases, perhaps he was right. Several French players,

including the incisive Jean Tigana and defenders Thierry Tusseau

and Patrick Battiston, had fallen victim to Montezuma's revenge,

though it's not quite known what the old Aztec had against the

French. But in most cases, what Segota saw as fatigue was more

likely a loser's colored, wishful thinking. He said that if the

game had lasted longer the Canadians might have equalized. But

in the moment the referee blew his whistle, the opposite seemed

somehow more likely - that France would have merely inflated its

margin.

Almost a triumph

For Canada to fall 1 to 0, as it did in the enervating

humidity and 34C temperatures here in their inaugural appearance

in the World Cup final was, in so many ways, a triumph. The

indefatigable Paul James, showing himself of equal eloquence off

the field as on, captured the sense of it: "I think we proved we

can go against the top teams in the world and compete

competitively. I think it opened a lot of eyes. Probably half

the world was watching that game. I'm proud to be a Canadian

today."

Outside, where the dregs of the large and vocal contingent of

Canadian fans lingered, a tall fellow carrying three Canadian

flags (1,000 pesos if you bought from a sombrero-clad vendor

with a conscience; as much as 30,000 pesos if you didn't)

bellowed at a friend, "We should have held on, Tommy; we should

have held on."

Could have, yes. Should, have, no. The truth is, it would have

been an injustice if the French had lost. They counted 11 good

scoring chances to a scant two for Canada. That Jean-Perre

Papin, having come close so often all day, should score the

winner seemed a breath of poetic justice. That the precocious

goalkeeper, Paul Dolan, should be its undisputed victim was a

cruel twist.

From the game's second minute the 20-year-old - listed as

"Kennet Doland" on the official match lineups - displayed

great coolness. That time, he moved confidently out to grasp a

speculative half-cross, half-shot by Battiston. Thereafter, he

was similarly sure, unrattled by the magic of Tigana, Giresse

and Michel Platini. In the 47th minute, as Dolan prepared to

kick, some moron tossed a fighting cock on to the pitch. It

landed a few feet away from him, but Dolan's figure betrayed no

emotion. He simply waited calmly for the referee to arrive and

remove it to the sidelines.

Out of nowhere

The goal, when it came, did so "out of nowhere," floated

beyond the far post at first and it seemed certain it would be

embraced by Dolan's long reach, but suddenly, there was the

newly-subsittuted Yannick Stopyra, heading it in front to where

Papin lurked, noggin at the ready, on the line.

"He (Dolan) made a decision to flick it out (for a corner

kick)," head coach Tony Waiters would say. "He misjudged it; it

went over his outstretched arm. It was one of the very few

mistakes he made."

The kid sighed that it was "a good cross; actually, too far

for me to get to it. I couldn't believe it when I saw him

(Stopyra) there. Bob (Lenarduzzi) was challenging him, and he

just headed it back in front."

Dolan said the cross' lazy, floating pass was typical of the

way the Aztec ball reacts in the rarefied air of the 1,900-metre

high El Bajio plain: He might well have had it easier at sea

level, but that, of course, is more wishful speculation.

Ultimately, that isolated miscue couldn't obscure the point

James had made and that they all made this day. Particularly in

the opening 30 minutes, the elegant French were clearly upset by

Canada's pressing, exasperating defence. Tigana and Platini were

each harried into losing the ball several times, especially by

James, and the heads-up clearing of Ian Bridge and Randy Samuel

was equally vexing.

Platini gesticulated angrily at his teammates twice. Asked

about it, he answered, "For two years, I am always angry because

I am getting old. For some moments in the game, the French were

afraid to lose to the Canadians. It wasn't panic, it was anger."

That anger would have deepened had Maxime Bossis not got his

head on consecutive chips from Igor Vrablic and Carl Valentine

in the 11th minute with Joel Bats down and out; if he hadn't

tackled Valentine with James breaking clear int he box in the

77th.

James said he "couldn't believe it," that the pass never came;

Valentine countered that just as he was about to deliver it, "I

saw the defender moving towards him (James). I saw a gap and

tried to chip it through, but I stubbed my foot on the ball."

But if Valentine stubbed his foot, the Canadians surely

didn't.