Canada 4 Bermuda 0 Bermuda's first World Cup match was one they would probably rather forget.

In front of 1,300 spectators on October 6, 1968, in Toronto, the Island team went two goals down inside 10 minutes and never recovered.

Four minutes into the game, Canada were awarded a penalty when Bermuda's Noel Simons tripped Canadian left winger Zannata and Vigh converted from the spot.

Zanatta scored the second himself in the 10th minute after a goalmouth scramble and Papadakis grabbed the third for the home side before half time after Bermuda failed to clear a free-kick.

Bermuda goalkeeper Granville (The Cat) Nusum made a string of brilliant saves to limit the damage, skipper Kenny Cann had a solid game at centre half and Irving (Jack) Romaine worked hard in the midfield.

But Canda piled on more pressure after the break and netted their fourth goal 14 minutes from time when Papadakis grabbed his second.

Bermuda 0 Canada 0 As for the first game against the Canadians, Bermuda Football Association excluded the country's professionals from the team.

So there were no places for Clyde Best, Gladwyn (Bubba) Daniels or Carlton (Peppy) Dill.

A street poll conducted by The Royal Gazette found no-one supporting the BFA's position and fans pleading for the association to field the Island's best team.

Nevertheless, on October 20, 1968, the team put up a fight in front of 4,000 spectators at the National Stadium, with Granville (The Cat) Nusum again living up to his nickname whenever he was called into action.

Although Canada dominated most of the game, Bermuda mounted a late rally in a desperate bid to get their first World Cup win, but all to no avail.

Bermuda: Granville Nusum, Noel Simons, Kenny Cann (Capt.), Jack Romaine, Rudy Minors, Edward Ming, Gary Darrell, Roger Hunt, Winston Trott, Lionel Smith, Willis Cann.

United States 6 Bermuda 2 Bermuda went down to a heavy defeat in a remarkable game in Kansas City on November 3, 1968, which saw both goalkeepers leave the field with broken bones inside the first 19 minutes.

Granville (The Cat) Nusum needed sugery on a double fracture of the jaw after an horrific collision with his own team captain Kenny Cann as both homed in on a loose ball.

Ironically, the US had already their goalkeeper Sandy Feher after just four minutes with a broken leg after a collision with Irving Romaine.

The US took the lead after 33 minutes when Peter Millar's shot slipped through the hands of Nusum's replacement Earlston Jennings.

And two minutes later Gerry Baker made it 2-0 with a 30-yard screamer.

Winston Trott fired into the US net four minutes before the break to score Bermuda's first World Cup goal.

Six minutes into the second half, Bermuda equalised when Trott crossed to a 17-year-old striker named Clyde Best, who made no mistake with a powerful shot.

But the Island team caved in late on as Baker and Roy scored to give the US a 4-2 lead, before Millar netted two late goals to complete his hat-trick.

Bermuda 0 United States 2 The US qualified from the three-nation group with a comfortable win over an injury-hit Bermuda team on November 11, 1968.

Peter Millar put the US in front after seven minutes and Willy Roy headed home the second four minutes before half-time.

Clyde Best fired into the side netting after cutting inside from the left, but that was the closest the home side came to a goal. Another 17-year-old, David Frost came on as substitute for his international debut and showed a lot of promise.

Bermuda: E.Jennings, G.Daniels, K.Cann (capt.), L.Smith, R.Minors, R.Smith, G.Darrell, R.Hunt, W.Trott, C.Best, M.Lewis.

Coaches of the future: Gary Darrell (right), part of Bermuda's 1968 team and the man who coached the 1992 team in a memorable run, stands over Robert Calderon, head coach of the current World Cup team.

SOCCER SOC