Read our prediction for Iceland vs Ghana below. This preview was written by a sport journalist who is specialised in betting tips and predictions. Use our betting tips for the match between Iceland vs Ghana and you can increase your winnings!
Iceland vs Ghana Prediction & Betting tips
For Iceland, the tension is increasing. The small island nation will be competing in a World Cup final for the first time in history. Already at the last European Championships, the whole of Europe welcomed the likeable northerners into their hearts. In Russia, too, the Icelanders will inspire the neutral audience with their haka. Similarly, Ghana did in its first World Cup. In Germany, the West Africans infected all with their courage and brought even the most upset fans to dance. At that time, Ghana moved into the second round. Icelanders can expect a similar or even better result in their first final round. The two teams never met each other. For the friendly match on Thursday, the players travel from Ghana to Reykjavik. The game will kick off at 22:00.
Iceland:
The Icelanders are probably the high flyers of recent years. Thanks to a surprising performance in qualifying Group A for the European Championship in France, the Icelanders took second place. This qualified them directly for the finals. Although there were strong opponents in the group with the Czech Republic, Turkey and the Netherlands, Iceland’s national team qualified for the first time in history for a final round of the European Championship. In France, the small island state convinced by turns. In Group F Iceland scored five points after three rounds and finished second behind Hungary. In the first group match was the later tournament winner. Iceland secured a deserved draw against Portugal. In the round of 16 England faced a big football nation. In the game in Nice against the three lions, the roles were clearly divided – with a victory of the Icelanders, odds of up to 10.00 were achievable! After four minutes, Rooney shot his country into the lead. It seemed like the favorite role was confirmed. Sigurdsson equalized the game but only two pointer rotations later and Sigthorsson increased in the 18th minute even to the final 1: 2 for the Northern Europeans. In the quarterfinals, the host showed the football dwarf his limits. In the first half France confirmed their offensive strength and scored four goals!
Only two months after this Kanterniederlage against France started the qualification for the final round in Russia. Again, Iceland were unleashed strong group opponents. In Group I, the country with less than half a million inhabitants prevailed against Croatia, Ukraine, Turkey, Finland and Kosovo. Only seven goals conceded the Icelanders in their ten group matches. In the fourth-to-last round, coach Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side surprisingly lost to Finland. Thus, the race for the first place and thus the direct qualification again closely. Especially the 0-3 away win in Turkey caused a stir and the first participation in a World Cup finals. Iceland meets Croatia again in Russia. In addition, the Europeans are still fighting against Argentina and Nigeria in Group D for the last sixteen.
Ghana:
For Ghana, the duel against Iceland is the last friendly before the summer break. The Black Stars will not play in Russia, so miss the West African after three successful appearances, the finals of the World Cup. In Germany, South Africa and Brazil, the Ghanaians all infected with their irrepressible joie de vivre. At the finals on their own continent, the players of the Black Stars carried the hopes of the whole of Africa on their shoulders. In Group D, Ghana qualified behind Germany for the last sixteen. In this the Africans met the USA. Kevin-Prince Boateng hammered his colors in the fifth minute in the lead. Donovan equalized the match only in the second half by penalty. In extra time, only Gyan scored a goal, pushing Ghana into a quarter-final for the first time in history. In Johannesburg, the West Africans met Uruguay and had the entire stadium behind them. After 120 minutes, it was still 1: 1, as Luis Suarez saved the ball on the line with his hand. Asamoah Gyan shot the penalty to the crossbar – the penalty shoot-out had to decide on the entry into the semi-finals. In this the nerves of the Africans failed. The elimination in the quarterfinals has been the best result of Ghana at a World Cup so far.
In qualifying for the finals in Russia Ghana disappointed in the group E. Only Egypt was classified as a strong opponent. Against Uganda, the West Africans secured only two points in two games. Especially the yield in the home games of the Black Stars was sobering. Since Egypt and especially Salah convinced, Ghana took only third place.