Page by: Kevin He (Apr 2016)
Current FIFA Ranking: 71
Historical Tournament Record: None
Manager: Patrice Neveu
FIFA ranking since 1993
Overview
Nicknamed Les Grenadiers, the Haiti side is a heavy underdog in Group B, ranked lowest by far behind their counterparts Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador. If you look at the chart above, they’ve been steadily climbing the rankings in recent years, breaking the Top 40 once in 2012 but falling back down into the 70’s. This is actually the first year that this team has qualified for the Copa America as a CONCACAF confederation. It took them an exciting upset win over Trinidad and Tobago in the qualification playoffs to clinch the spot. The tragic 2010 Haiti earthquake had a particular impact on this team, claiming the lives of 30 people that had been a part of their soccer program. In the wake of that devastation however, they’ve come back and had several reasonable finishes in recent tournaments. While they look to show up strong in this year’s Copa America, it’s definitely an uphill battle against their opponents in Group B. It would be a longshot to say they make it out of group stages.
What the chart above does not show is this team’s surge in the 1970s. After joining the CONCACAF in 1961, this Haitian squad quickly made a name for itself. They went on to qualify for the 1974 World Cup, their first and only appearance there, and were agreed upon by many to be the third strongest team in the confederation, behind Mexico and Costa Rica [3]. But ever since then, they’ve never quite been the same. Now one of the weaker sides in the region, Haiti’s lack of notable talent makes it hard for them to compete internationally.
Players to Watch
Johnny Placide
Photo labeled for reuse by Wikipedia
Club: Stade de Reims (France) | Position: Goalkeeper
Placide, captain and goalie of Haiti’s national team, is definitely one to watch. His stifling goalie work and spectacular hands frequently rescue Haiti from many sticky situations. If he has a few good games and shuts out the opposition’s offense, anything could happen. Defense will be important for this squad, and Placide will be at the helm of that effort.
Jean-Jacques Pierre
Photo labeled for reuse by Wikipedia
Club: Paris (France) | Position: Defender
Jean-Jacques Pierre is an experienced defender for the Haitian side, a consistent anchor in the back field. He’s made 64 international appearances for the team, the most of any current member, and was recently named the 5th best Haitian player all-time [1]. Look for him to help Placide in the backfield against the threats of Brazil and Ecuador.
Manager
Patrice Neveu took over the manager position in December of 2015, after Marc Collat’s contract was not renewed due to the team’s poor start to the World Cup qualifiers [2]. His coaching resume includes commanding the Guinea national team, as well as the DR Congo and Niger squads. He’s also stood at the helm of several club teams in China and Egypt. Patrice is of French descent, with a few years of playing experience as a defender on a handful of French club teams [4]. He is faced with the challenging task of getting this squad out of the group stages on their debut in the Copa America tournament, and showing the world that this Haitian soccer team is capable of better things than its low ranking.
Sources
[1]”Gold Cup 2015 Profile: Haiti.” Lion Of Vienna Suite. N.p., 03 July 2015. Web. 01 May 2016. <http://lionofviennasuite.sbnation.com/2015/7/3/8844813/gold-cup-2015-profile-haiti>.
[2]”Haiti – Football : Patrice Neveu, New National Coach – HaitiLibre.com : Haiti News 7/7.” HaitiLibre.com. N.p., 20 Dec. 2012. Web. 01 May 2016. <http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16114-haiti-football-patrice-neveu-new-national-coach.html>.
[3] “Haiti National Football Team.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 01 May 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haiti_national_football_team>.
[4] “Patrice Neveu.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 01 May 2016. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrice_Neveu>.
How to cite this page:
“Haiti” Written by Kevin He (28 April 2016), Copa America Centenario 2016, Soccer Politics Blog, Duke University http://sites.duke.edu/wcwp/tournament-guides/copa-america-centenario-2016-guide/copa-america-centenario-2016-team-guide/haiti/ (accessed on (date))
