Scotland given 'no pressure' warning as six goal striker is backed to create World Cup history with Haiti

The Caribbean nation is set to take part in the tournament for just the second time in its history, kicking off its Group C campaign with a clash against Scotland in the early hours of Sunday morning at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. They’ll then face five-time champions Brazil before ending the group stage against Morocco.

They enter the tournament having never won a game at the World Cup, with their only previous appearance in 1974 yielding three group games, with 14 goals conceded. While Haiti winger Derrick Etienne admits his side goes into the game against Scotland as underdogs, he insists the lack of pressure on their shoulders gives them confidence that they can produce a result.

"We're trying to do something that's never been done before,” said Etienne. “We understand it's a hard task, but we have a lot of belief in ourselves. We don't really have anything to lose, we have everything to gain, so that's what we're going to try to do.I think we delivered a message when we beat New Zealand in the friendly recently and the support we received was incredible. The country does so well in supporting the team.

“I don’t think there’s any nerves in the group, honestly. A lot of people didn’t expect us to get here, but this is what we wanted, and we got it. We’re just excited to put Haiti back on the map and show the people that Haiti is more than just poverty and what’s going on there. We don’t have anything to lose. Everyone is expected us to be last. We were even expected to get to the World Cup, so we are just going to go and play the best football that we can, and God’s controls everything. So whatever results we get, we get. We’ll try our best and we’ll do everything we can to get points.”

Etienne, who plays in the MLS with Toronto FC, also believes the team’s chances of success have been significantly boosted by Sunderland striker Wilson Isidor’s decision to switch allegiances to Haiti ahead of the tournament. A vital part of the Black Cats’ side that secured qualification to the Europa League for the first time in 53 years, he bagged six goals in 11 starts for the Wearside this term. Despite representing France at various youth levels, the 24-year-old opted to switch his national allegiance in March and has started his senior international career in explosive fashion by scoring two goals in his first four games for Haiti.

“I think a lot of people were able to see that when we played in Fort Lauderdale the support that we had and the atmosphere they created,” said Etienne. “We have a good team and I think our striker Wilson Isidor can do very well for us. He's direct, strong, good technically and can finish. So, the fact he's playing with Haiti is amazing."

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