Haiti eliminated, one last shot at pride against Morocco

Morocco on Wednesday, and that is the end of the road

Haiti face Morocco in the final Group C match on Wednesday, already eliminated from the World Cup (1) (4). Brazil 3–0 Haiti confirmed the exit, three first-half goals, no way back (1). Scotland 1–0 Haiti came first, a narrow loss in the opener (2) (5).

The squad goes home after this one. Nothing left to play for but pride and a first goal, maybe a first point, on the biggest stage.

Morocco have stars, Haiti have one last shot

Morocco line up with Ismael Saibari, Brahim Díaz, Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui, and goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, the core that drew Brazil 1–1 (4). Ayyoub Bouaddi, 18, ran that game. Chadi Riad and Issa Diop are in the back line (4).

For Haiti, the match is about leaving something behind. No win yet, no goal yet. A performance against Morocco changes the feeling around this campaign.

Makkelie in the middle, and under fire

Dutch referee Danny Makkelie has been assigned to the match (3). The appointment is controversial, FIFA have put him "in the line of fire," Dutch reports say, with one outlet writing "he can never do it right" (3).

Scotland's win was historic, Haiti made them earn it

Scotland 1–0 Haiti was their first World Cup victory in 36 years (2) (5). That tells you how tight it was. Your team held them to a single goal.

Brazil was a different class

Brazil 3–0 Haiti, three goals before half-time, and the group stage was effectively over (1). The gulf was real, but nobody expected anything else against a side of that quality.