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Iceland vs France Prediction & Betting tips
The match between Iceland and France in Reykjavik on Saturday evening is an absolute key duel in the battle for direct EC qualification. Number three Iceland is after all only three points behind number two in France, and in case of a victory it can therefore come up with the reigning world champion in points. However, a defeat would have disastrous consequences.
Iceland:
The national team of Iceland has been making good progress in recent years, with the quarter-finals at the 2016 European Championships as the absolute high point. Whether the Scandinavians will be present again next year is, however, very much the question. The blue shirts were surprised with a 4-2 defeat last month by small Albania, threatening to lose sight of Turkey and France. With only four rounds left, Iceland faces a three-point deficit on both countries, so the squatter against France must yield at least one point.
Iceland has to perform on Friday night, so it makes sense that Hamren mainly sticks to routiniers like Ragnar Sigurdsson (90 caps), Birkir Bjarnason (80) and Kari Arnason (79). Captain Aron Gunnarsson had to cancel an injury. The expectation is therefore that star player Gylfi Sigurdsson will play a bit further back, and that Iceland with the fast wing hits Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Arnor Ingvi Traustason will gamble on the counter.
France:
France managed to win five of its six European Championship qualifiers and is therefore on track for a starting ticket for next year’s European Championship. With a win over Iceland, Les Bleus have almost got European Championship qualification, but even with a draw or even a narrow defeat, they still have good papers. More than half a year ago, France won 4-0 against Iceland in its own home, so even with a small loss the men of national coach Didier Deschamps outdo the Icelanders on the basis of a better mutual result.
However, France will not let that happen. As the reigning world champion and vice-leader of the FIFA world ranking, the French are actually obliged to beat Iceland in Reykjavik as well. However, due to injury, Deschamps cannot rely on a few important players, including Hugo Lloris and Kylian Mbappe. Alphonse Areola and Kingsley Coman are their most likely substitutes.
Iceland vs France head to head matches
25.03.19 EUR France Iceland 4 : 0
11.10.18 FI France Iceland 2 : 2
03.07.16 EUR France Iceland 5 : 2
27.05.12 FI France Iceland 3 : 2
08.10.99 EUR France Iceland 3 : 2