Women’s World Cup: The Hungry Lionesses Face Hopeful Haiti

England vs Haiti

Sarina Wiegman’s England open their 2023 Women’s World Cup campaign with a Group D clash against Haiti on Saturday where they’re expected to make a winning start.

The Lionesses were outstanding in their qualification campaign, winning all 10 of their group matches with some ease. Meanwhile, Nicolas Delepine’s Haiti are just happy to be here.

The strife-torn country needs something to smile about, and the Grenadieres have certainly given it that, qualifying for their very first World Cup, and they are determined to enjoy it.

This game is a wonderful diversion for a country which has struggled to recover from a devastating earthquake in 2010, and recent political tension has resulted in police rioting, angered by the murder of their colleagues in a fractured country. 

The Women’s World Cup 2023 betting odds predict a big win for Wiegman’s girls, but the neutrals will be rooting for Haiti, who are determined to make their country proud.      

Talking Points

Bright expected to be fit for England

Post Ellen White and Jill Scott, England are a little short of leaders on the pitch, and so the news that captain Millie Bright is very hopeful of being fit for the Lionesses’ group games is good news indeed for Wiegman.

The Sheffield-born Chelsea star has been out of action since March with a knee injury, but she came through a friendly against Canada at the weekend and was all smiles at the final whistle.

At centre-back, Bright is a key figure as well as being an inspirational captain. And while Wiegman used a plethora of substitutes to give the majority of her squad a game, the minutes Bright had assured her and her boss that she can face Haiti. The 29-year-old has been taking a full part in team training since the Lionesses arrived in Oz.

It’s just the boost England needed, having won their qualifying group so impressively, scoring 80 unanswered goals, and winning Euro 2022 on home soil. The Lionesses are hungry for more success and arrive at the World Cup with high expectations.           

Dumornay gives Haiti star quality

While the SBOTOP stats team doesn’t hold out much hope for the Grenadieres, the underdogs do have one not-so-secret weapon in the shape of 19-year-old star Melchie Dumornay.

The midfield ace scored twice as Haiti beat Chile to qualify for the World Cup, and she has recently been signed by seven-time Champions League winners Lyon.

Dumornay is an exciting player with the ability to go all the way in women’s football and is sure to be one of the all-time megastars.

Her sublime ball control, quick change of pace, and eye for the goal make her a nightmare to defend against, at the same time as lifting the spirit of her teammates who will look for her at every opportunity.      

Another player sure to feature heavily in the Women’s World Cup 2023 highlights is 24-year-old Kerly Theus, the most capped goalkeeper in the Haiti squad with five international appearances. She is not the biggest in stature, but she has no lack of passion.

“I’ve been to tournaments where people said ‘Haiti? What’s that?’” she said. “The World Cup is the biggest stage. Your country, your name is publicised everywhere. We want the word to know about Haiti and the talent we have. Oh, and we want to get past the group stage.”    

Keep an eye out too for 26-year-old Batcheba Louis, the striker who has 23 goals from 16 appearances. Millie Bright will certainly know all about her.  

History

This is England’s seventh appearance at a World Cup, their best effort being a semi-final place in 2015, while Haiti have qualified for the World Cup for the first time and have never made it through the group stages of the CONCACAF women’s championship.

In terms of recent form, there is not a lot to choose between the two nations, though England have had a tougher run of fixtures.

The Lionesses have won three games, drawn three, and lost one in 2023, a 2-0 reversal to Sam Kerr’s Australia in April. The Aussies open up their tournament with a match against the Republic of Ireland on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Haiti have won four games from six in 2023, including a 4-0 victory over Senegal and a 5-0 mauling of Malta. But the Grenadieres come into this game on the back of a 2-1 reversal to tournament dark horses South Korea.

Betting Tip

The odds makers say this is an England certainty as they have swept all before them during the qualifiers. The Lionesses’ biggest win of all time was a 20-0 thrashing of Latvia two years ago, and that certainly won’t be at risk here.

Haiti don’t have the depth of their opponents, but they do have a star in Dumornay and plenty of fight.   

 

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