At 9 AM Beijing time (CEST) on June 14, Haiti will face Scotland in the opening match of Group C in the World Cup group stage. Ahead of the match, Haitian forward Étienne was interviewed by Scottish media outlet "The Scotsman," discussing the upcoming fixture and external perceptions of the team.

On the Match Against Scotland

When asked about their opening opponent, Étienne acknowledged that Scotland will be a very difficult challenge.

He noted that Scotland is a well-organized team with strong tactical discipline, boasting solid defensive structure and excellent team cohesion, meaning Haiti must be fully prepared.

"They're a very united and disciplined side, and I expect it to be a tough match," Étienne said. "I know they've lost a player to injury (Billy Gilmour), but they still have top-tier players like McTominay."

However, he emphasized that Haiti will not be discouraged; instead, the team is ready to leverage its strengths to create threats.

"If we're disciplined defensively, I think our athleticism will cause them problems," Étienne stated.

In his view, Haiti's advantage lies in overall pace and physical intensity. As long as they maintain defensive stability, they'll have chances to find openings in the match.

"We Won't Play With a Losing Mentality"

On the team's mindset, Étienne was emphatic: Haiti will not enter the World Cup with any defeatist attitude.

"It's crucial that we don't go into any match thinking we're going to lose," he said. "We respect our opponents, but more importantly, we shouldn't fear anyone."

He stressed that a football match lasts only 90 minutes and any result is possible; what matters is whether the team can stick to its own style of play.

"Regardless of the opponent, what matters is whether we can play our game," Étienne said.

He believes Haiti must maintain confidence while respecting opponents and not lose initiative simply because the opponent has a bigger name or comes from a strong European league system.

Étienne also drew on a recent Champions League match as an analogy to emphasize the importance of defensive discipline.

"We saw in the Champions League final that Arsenal's defense was excellent and did a great job restricting Paris Saint-Germain's attack," he said. "I'm not suggesting we sit deep, but it's an important reference point."

His intent wasn't to advocate for purely defensive football, but rather to stress the importance of maintaining structure when facing strong teams, ensuring the squad doesn't lose balance in the confrontation.

On Criticism Over "Expanded Qualification"

Étienne also directly addressed external voices suggesting Haiti qualified for the World Cup solely due to the expanded format.

He stated the team completely disregards such external judgments.

"Honestly, we don't care what the rest of the world thinks," Étienne said. "We know our standards and how much effort we've invested."

Haiti Returns to the World Cup After Years Away

Scotland will begin their World Cup group stage against Haiti this weekend. The opponent is considered the underdog in this group, but external observers have already warned Scotland that Haiti arrives with the goal of "rewriting history."

Haiti will make their second World Cup appearance in this tournament. They compete in Group C, with their opening match at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, against Steve Clarke's Scotland team, scheduled for early Sunday morning local time. Haiti will subsequently face five-time World Cup champions Brazil, and their final group-stage match will be against Morocco.

Overall, this group presents a formidable challenge for Haiti, but the team still hopes to achieve a breakthrough against strong opponents.

Historically, Haiti had participated in the World Cup only once before, in 1974. At that time, they lost all three group matches, conceded 14 goals, and never recorded a single victory. This World Cup represents not just another opportunity for Haiti on the global stage, but a crucial chance to pursue historic progress.

However, forward Étienne, who plays for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer, acknowledged that Haiti remains "clearly the underdog" against Scotland, but believes this low external expectation actually allows the team to relax more and could be a significant factor in their pursuit of positive results.

Étienne said: "We're trying to do something that's never been done before. We know this is a difficult task, but we have strong belief in ourselves. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain, and that's what we're fighting for."

He also mentioned that the team recently won a friendly match against New Zealand, which demonstrated Haiti's potential to the wider world and boosted team morale. "We sent a message in that match. After that victory, we received tremendous support, and the fans' reaction was very enthusiastic. The country's backing of the team has been excellent."

Regarding the team's preparations for the World Cup, Étienne stated that the internal atmosphere is very stable—no obvious tension, just anticipation and excitement.

He said: "I don't think there's any tension within the team, actually. Many people didn't expect us to come this far, but that's exactly what we wanted, and we achieved it. Now we just want to bring Haiti back to the world football stage and show people that Haiti is more than what the outside world stereotypically believes."

He further emphasized that the team hopes to change external perceptions of Haiti through the World Cup. "We want the world to see that Haiti isn't just about poverty or other negative narratives. We have nothing to lose. The outside world even thinks we'll finish last, and some even thought we wouldn't qualify for the World Cup. But we're here now, and we'll do everything possible to perform well."

Étienne also stated that regardless of results, the team will strive for points and accept whatever comes. "We'll do our best, give everything we have, and then accept the result."

He also highlighted the important addition to the team's attacking line—Wilson Isidor—who previously performed well for English club Sunderland, contributing 6 goals in 11 starts this season, making him one of the team's primary attacking threats.

Isidor previously represented France's youth national teams but chose to change nationality in March this year to join Haiti's national team. He quickly impressed on the international stage, scoring two goals in his first four appearances for the national side.

Étienne believes this addition has greatly enhanced Haiti's attacking power: "Many people have already seen our performance in our Fort Lauderdale match, and the atmosphere was fantastic. We're a good team, and Isidor can help us greatly. He's quick, strong, technically sound, and has excellent finishing ability, so his arrival is very important for us."

Traducido por IA.