Scotland will try to win their first World Cup finals sport since 1990 after they tackle Haiti of their opening encounter.
Having not featured at a World Cup finals since 1998, after they claimed only a single level from three video games, Scotland head right into a sport through which they’re clear favourites searching for to finish a 36-year drought, with a 2-1 win over Sweden at Italia 90 marking the final time they tasted victory on this stage.
A win by a snug margin would put Scotland in a powerful place to qualify for the knockout rounds for the primary time, with the enlargement and alter in format boosting their hopes of progressing as among the finest third-placed groups.
Scotland ought to go into the sport in excessive spirits, having adopted a 3-1 pleasant win over 10-man Curacao with a 4-0 defeat of Bolivia of their ultimate warm-up.
But Steve Clarke shall be eager for his aspect to keep away from complacency, as a failure to gather all three factors on this sport would put Scotland in a really tough place forward of subsequent Group C video games with Morocco and Brazil.
Haiti are making solely their second look on the World Cup finals, having misplaced all three video games within the group stage again in 1974.
The Grenadiers have understandably been given little hope of progressing from the group. Nonetheless, they got here via a tough group within the third spherical of CONCACAF qualification to achieve the finals, ending prime forward of Honduras and World Cup regulars Costa Rica to ebook their place.
Whereas their kind within the lead as much as the match has been uneven, Haiti did declare a 4-0 win over New Zealand, the lowest-ranked nation within the competitors, in considered one of their warm-up video games.
And winger Derrick Etienne believes an absence of strain on Haiti could possibly be to their profit.
“We’re making an attempt to do one thing that’s by no means been achieved earlier than,” Etienne stated. “We perceive it’s a tough process, however we have now lots of perception in ourselves. We don’t actually have something to lose, we have now every thing to achieve, in order that’s what we’re going to attempt to do.I feel we delivered a message once we beat New Zealand within the pleasant not too long ago and the help we acquired was unimaginable. The nation does so effectively in supporting the staff
“I don’t suppose there’s any nerves within the group, truthfully. Lots of people didn’t count on us to get right here, however that is what we wished, and we received it.
“We’re simply excited to place Haiti again on the map and present the those who Haiti is extra than simply poverty and what’s occurring there. We don’t have something to lose.
“Everyone seems to be anticipating us to be final. We weren’t even anticipated to get to the World Cup, so we’re simply going to go and play one of the best soccer that we will, and God controls every thing. So no matter outcomes we get, we get. We’ll attempt our greatest and we’ll do every thing we will to get factors.”
Group information for Haiti v Scotland
Haiti haven’t any health issues heading into the sport, however Scotland’s star midfielder Scott McTominay is a doubt via sickness. Scott McKenna (knock) might additionally miss out.
Predicted line-ups for Haiti v Scotland
Haiti: Placide; Arcus, Ade, Delcroix, Expertise; Deedson, Jean Jacques, Bellegarde, Windfall; Isidor, Nazon
Scotland: Gunn; Hickey, Hanley, Souttar, Robertson; Doak, McTominay, Ferguson, McGinn; Adams, Shankland
The place to observe Haiti v Scotland: TV and on-line streams
Haiti v Scotland kicks off at 2:00am UK time on Sunday morning. Will probably be broadcast on BBC One and also will be out there to observe on iPlayer and through the BBC Sport web site.
Stats for Haiti v Scotland
- Haiti and Scotland have by no means beforehand confronted one another.
- Scotland have gained 4 of their final 5 aggressive internationals.
- Each groups have discovered the web in every of the final 4 aggressive Scotland video games.
- Lawrence Shankland has scored 4 objectives in his final three video games for Scotland, having failed to attain in his earlier six appearances.
- Haiti’s document goalscorer Duckens Nazon scored six instances in qualifying for the World Cup. He has 44 objectives in complete for his nation.
- Sebastien Migne’s aspect conceded three objectives in 4 totally different video games in qualifying, together with a 3-1 defeat to Barbados and a 5-1 loss to Curacao.
- Having gained his first cap in March, Haiti’s Wilson Isidor has scored in two of his 4 appearances for his nation.
Prediction for Haiti v Scotland
Scotland followers shall be terrified of them falling sufferer to the sort of upset they’ve suffered in years passed by at earlier World Cup appearances. Nonetheless, their performances in latest friendlies ought to raised confidence. Given the attacking high quality Scotland have displayed of late, it’s tough to see Clarke’s males failing to get the job achieved.
Prediction: Haiti 1-3 Scotland
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