Lineups, stats and expectations
All the pressure is on Scotland in this Group C match.
Scotland will be looking to win their first World Cup playoff match since 1990 when they face Haiti in their opening match.
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Since they were last in a World Cup finals in 1998 – taking just one point from three games – Scotland go into a game where they are clear favourites. They are looking to break a 36-year-long victory drought. The 2-1 win over Sweden in Italy 90 is the last time they tasted victory in this company.
A comfortable win will put Scotland in a good position to qualify for the knockout stages for the first time. The expansion of the championship and the change of format increase the hope of advancing as one of the best third-placed teams.
Scotland should go into the game in good spirits. After the 3-1 win over ten-man Curaçao in a friendly match, they followed that up with a 4-0 win against Bolivia in the final dress rehearsal.
Still, Steve Clarke is concerned that his team does not become complacent. Not taking all three points in this match will put Scotland in a very difficult position before they face Morocco and Brazil in the following group games.
Haiti – the big underdog
Haiti is participating in only the second World Cup playoffs. The last time, in 1974, they lost all three games in the group stage.
The grenadiers have understandably had little hope of advancing from the group. But they got through a tough group in the third round of the CONCACAF qualifiers. They won the group ahead of Honduras and World Cup veterans Costa Rica and thus secured their place.
Although their form before the tournament has been mixed, Haiti actually won 4-0 over New Zealand – the lowest-ranked team in the championship – in one of their friendlies.
And winger Derrick Etienne believes that the absence of pressure on Haiti could be an advantage.
“We are trying to do something that has never been done before,” says Etienne. “We understand that it is a difficult task, but we really believe in ourselves. We really have nothing to lose, we have everything to gain, so that’s what we’re going to try for. I think we sent a message when we beat New Zealand in the friendly and the support we got was incredible. The country is so strong for the team.
“I don’t really think there are any nerves in the group. Many people didn’t expect us to come here, but this was what we wanted, and we made it. We are just excited to put Haiti back on the map and show people that Haiti is more than just poverty and everything that happens there. We have nothing to lose.
“Everyone expects us to be last. We weren’t even expected to reach the World Cup, so we’re just going to go out and play the best football we can. God controls everything. No matter what results we get, we get them. We will do our best and everything we can to take points.
Team updates ahead of Haiti – Scotland
Haiti has no injuries or illnesses before the match. But Scotland’s star midfielder Scott McTominay is uncertain due to illness. Scott McKenna (stroke) could also be out.
Predicted line-ups
Haiti: Placide; Arcus, Ade, Delcroix, Experience; Deedson, Jean Jacques, Bellegarde, Providence; Isidor, Nazon
Scotland: Gunn; Hickey, Hanley, Souttar, Robertson; Doak, McTominay, Ferguson, McGinn; Adams, Shankland
Where to watch Haiti – Scotland: TV & Streaming
Haiti – Scotland kicks off at 02:00 Norwegian time on Sunday night. The match will be broadcast on BBC One and will also be available on iPlayer and via the BBC Sport website.
Key figures before Haiti – Scotland
- Haiti and Scotland have never faced each other before.
- Scotland have won four of their last five competitive matches.
- Both teams have scored in each of Scotland’s last four competitive matches.
- Lawrence Shankland has scored four goals in his last three caps for Scotland – after scoring zero in his previous six.
- Haiti’s all-time top scorer Duckens Nazon scored six goals in World Cup qualifying. He has a total of 44 goals for his country.
- Sébastien Migné’s team conceded three goals in four different qualifiers, including a 3-1 loss to Barbados and a 5-1 loss to Curaçao.
- Haiti’s Wilson Isidor, who got his first cap in March, has scored in two of his four international matches.
Haiti vs Scotland predictions
Scottish supporters will fear that their team will fall victim to the kind of sensations they have experienced in the past at the World Cup. But the performances in the last friendly matches should give confidence. Given the attacking quality Scotland have shown lately, it’s hard to see Clark’s men not completing the mission.
Tips: Haiti 1-3 Scotland
