Match Preview
Haiti are about to embark on a second World Cup campaign having made there debut in the 1974 edition in West Germany. They will be hoping for a little more success than on that occasion when they lost all three games and conceded 14 goals.
Although not fancied to qualify from the CONCACAF Section of qualifying they did so with plenty to spare having won six and drawing two of there ten qualifying games in the second section which included back to back wins over more fancied Costa Rica (1-0) and Nicaragua (2-0).
What makes qualification an even bigger achievement for Haiti is they played all “Home” games some 500 miles away in Curacao due to safety concerns. In fact Sebastien Migne has been in charge of the nation for 18 months and he has yet to even visit.
Haiti have played two warm up games leading into the tournament losing 1-2 to Peru and then hammering New Zealand 4-0.
Scotland will be appearing at a ninth World Cup Tournament when they get underway on Sunday, however it is 28 years since they played at France 98 and in a strange quirk they are once again in the same group as Brazil & Morocco.
Qualification could not have been anymore dramatic for “The Tartan Army” as they scored twice in stoppage time to secure a 4-2 win over Denmark in a match they needed to win.
Steve Clarke has recently signed a new long term contract and he has a very settled squad to call upon who have been together for a long time. They will head to the US after two consecutive wins over Curacao (4-1) & Bolivia (4-0).
It’s not very often the Scots are free scoring and should they score four or more times here they will equal a record that has stood since 1929
Thi will be the first time they have faced Haiti and three points is a must if they want to go further in the tournament. They will be hoping to avoid an embarrassing.
Team News Haiti
Sebastien Migne is in a fortunate position of having a fully fit squad to pick from for this opening fixture in Group C which will enable him to continue with his preferred 4-4-2 formation.
Captain Johny Placide may be approaching his 39th birthday but he remains his countrys No1 goalkeeper and will win his 82nd cap against Scotland.
There will be a couple of familiar faces on show for Premier League fans with Wolves midfielder Jean‐Ricner Bellegarde and Sunderland striker Wilson Isidor both expected to start, with Isidor leading the line alongside key attacker Duckens Nazon, who has scored a national record 44 goals in 78 appearances for his country.
Team News Scotland
Scotland were dealt a huge blow on the eve of the Tournament when Napoli midfielder Billy Gilmour was ruled out of the World Cup having suffered a knee inury against Curacao at Hampden Park.
Steve Clarke has a couple of doubts ahead of the opening game with Scott McTominay having missed a couple of days training as did centre back Scott McKenna.
Should McTominay start he is likely to partner Kenny McClean in the middle of the park, although Bologna midfielder Lewis Ferguson is also a viable option. Captain John McGinn may be asked to fill in on the left side of a midfield four.
Che Adams has been the preferred option in attack during qualifying but new Rangers signing Lawrence Shankland has scored three goals in the last two games and he might get the nod ahead of Adams.
Craig Gordon is the oldest player at the Tournament at 43 and it would be a surprise if he started ahead of Angus Gunn who appears to be the No1 going forward.
Form
| Team | Latest Result | Form (Last 6) |
|---|---|---|
| Haiti | 4-0 vs New Zealand | W W L D W L |
| Scotland | 4-0 vs Bolivia | L W L L W W |
Possible Line Ups
Haiti (4-4-2)
Placide; Arcus, Ade, Delcroix, Experience; Deedson, Jean Jacques, Bellegarde, Providence; Isidor, Nazon
Scotland (4-4-2)
Gunn; Hickey, Hanley, Souttar, Robertson; Doak, McTominay, Ferguson, McGinn; Adams, Shankland
Betting Odds
| Team | Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Haiti Win | 11/2 (6.5) | Grand Ivy |
| Draw | 18/5 (4.6) | Dream Vegas |
| Scotland Win | 4/7 (1.57) | 247Bet |
We Predict.....
Haiti 0-2 Scotland
Scotland are on an upward trajectory right now under Steve Clarke and they will be full of confidence following two emphatic wins. Haiti may keep it tight early on but Scotland should get the breakthrough and get an easy World Cup opening win.