Preview: Can Haiti spring a surprise in first World Cup for 52 years?
· Yahoo Sports
Haiti return to the World Cup finals after 52 years and face the mammoth task of escaping a tough Group C.
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The Caribbean nation, ranked 81st in the world, have been drawn alongside a resurgent Scotland as well as the competition’s all-time leading winners Brazil and AFCON finalists Morocco after they topped their CONCACAF qualifying group.
Les Grenadiers finished second in their second round qualifying group before topping the third round group, ahead of 2014 quarter finalists Costa Rica, despite playing their matches outside the country due to political instability.
The ongoing conflict between the Haiti administration and anti-government forces and in the capital, Port-au-Princes, which first began in 2020, has meant that the US have suspended visas for the country’s nationals.
But their diaspora residing in the host nation will be able to attend to witness their country’s historic return and focus on the football that gets underway from the 11th of June.
Duckens Nazon led the way with six goals in qualifying, scoring a sensational hat trick against Costa Rica. As Haiti’s all-time leading marksman, he represents their best hope of pulling off the improbable in reaching the knockout stages.
Much like his country, Nazon has had his own extraordinary journey to this summer’s tournament. The ex-Coventry and St. Mirren forward plays for Iranian side Esteghlal avoided getting caught amidst the current conflict in the Middle East.
Wolves winger Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Sunderland’s Wilson Isidor are also expected to feature prominently, having both chosen to represent the Central Americans over their birth nation France.
Isidor in particular is likely to provide a big boost to Les Bicolores hopes, having shone for the Black Cats as they qualified for the Europa League and achieved continental football for the first time in over five decades.
Sébastien Migné’s men may also benefit from the hot weather in North America, with the country also enjoying a humid, tropical climate that sees average temperatures reach 30 degrees celcius in the summer months.
Les Rouge en Bleu have previously gone toe-to-toe with bigger nations despite their underdog status, having drawn with Italy in 2013 and narrowly lost to then-World Champions Spain that same year.
A fairytale run to the Gold Cup semi finals in 2019, which included a dramatic 3-2 victory over Canada in the quarters, shows the Caribbean’s also have tournament pedigree.
However, they could be some concern over the heavy 5-1 defeat to fellow World Cup debutants Curaçao early on in qualifying, but will nonetheless revel in a first finals tournament in over half a century.
Having started preparations in the best possible way with a thumping 4-0 victory over New Zealand, the real work for Migné and co. will begin on the 14th of JUne at 02:00 (GMT) when they kick off their campaign against Scotland.