MX23RW : Tuesday, March 19 02:21:36| >> :600:3397385:3397385:
[monks data]
Attendance: 12,000
Iceland national football team
Euro Champ Qualifying | Group Stage
Oct 11, 2019 at 7.45pm UK
 
France national football team

0-1

FT(HT: 0-0)
Giroud (66' pen.)

Preview: Iceland vs. France - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Friday's European Championship qualifier between Iceland and France, including predictions, team news and lineups.

Erik Hamren's Iceland welcome France to Reykjavik on Friday evening in an important Euro 2020 Group H qualifier.

The World Cup holders are currently behind Turkey at the top of the group on goal difference, while Iceland are three points further back in third.


Match Preview

Alfred Finnbogason celebrates with teammates after equalising during the World Cup group game between Argentina and Iceland on June 16, 2018© Reuters

Iceland will be looking to make amends for their disappointing 4-2 defeat against Albania last time out against a France side they are yet to beat in 14 previous meetings.

Despite being at home, Hamren's team are likely to set up defensively, hoping to soak up France's pressure and then hit on the counter through the likes of Arnor Traustason and Burnley winger Johann Berg Gudmundsson.

However, the squad that has won them debuts at the European Championships and the World Cup is aging and their reliance on the likes of 36-year-old Kari Arnason in defence and 35-year-old free agent midfielder Emil Hallfredsson leaves them vulnerable to pace and physicality.

They will also be somewhat deficient in midfielder as captain Aron Gunnarsson has been ruled out with injury, with Everton star Gylfi Sigurdsson likely to drop deeper in his absence.

France coach Didier Deschamps on September 7, 2019© Reuters

France have won three qualifiers in a row since their defeat to Turkey in June, scoring 11 goals in the process, although it must be noted that seven of those were across two games against Andorra.

Heading into their game with Turkey next Tuesday, Didier Deschamps' side will be determined to take maximum points from Iceland and put more pressure on the current group leaders.

France won the home fixture with Iceland 4-0 back in March, with Kylian Mbappe among the scorers that day, although the Paris Saint-Germain forward will be unavailable for this game after pulling out of the squad through injury.

With Iceland likely to opt for a formation with five at the back, the main decision for Deschamps will be whether to go for a wide and expansive 4-3-3 or a more direct 4-4-1-1 that allows Antoine Griezmann to play off Olivier Giroud.

It is also likely though that the former Marseille man opts to rest some players with a view to the Turkey game, with form players like Jonathan Ikone and Alassane Plea in contention to get some minutes.

Iceland recent form: WLWWWL

France recent form (all competitions): WWLWWW


Team News

Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris lies injured on October 5, 2019© Reuters

Aside from captain Gunnarsson's absence, Hamren has more or less a fully fit squad to choose from for France's visit to the Icelandic capital.

Although they traditionally play with a conventional four at the back, Iceland went for five against France in March and they are likely to do the same again on Friday, with Hordur Magnusson entering the side as an additional centre-half and Millwall's Jon Dadi Bodvarsson playing as the lone frontman.

France were hit with a number of late injury withdrawals, most notably Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and Mbappe.

Alphonse Areola is likely to deputise in Lloris's absence, while Kingsley Coman will probably continue in place of the former Monaco winger.

The main formation question for Deschamps will be whether to put N'Golo Kante into midfield alongside Corentin Tolisso and Blaise Matuidi or whether to stick with just those two and Thomas Lemar out wide.

Iceland possible starting lineup:
Halldorsson; Hermannsson, Arnason, Magnusson, R. Sigurdsson, Skulason; Gudmundsson, G Sigurdsson, Bjarnason, Traustason; Bodvarsson

France possible starting lineup:
Areola; Pavard, Varane, Kimpembe, Digne; Kante, Tolisso, Matuidi; Coman, Giroud, Griezmann


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We say: Iceland 0-3 France

While France have had issues breaking down smaller teams in the past, they have always found a way past Iceland's defences and that looks set to continue on Friday night.



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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain870121
Q Scotland flag Scotland852117
3 Norway Norway832311
4 Georgia Georgia82248
5 Cyprus Cyprus80080

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France871022
Q Netherlands Netherlands860218
3 Greece Greece841313
4 Ireland Rep. Ireland82066
5 Gibraltar flag Gibraltar80080

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England862020
Q Italy Italy842214
3 Ukraine Ukraine842214
4 Macedonia N. Macedonia82248
5 Malta flag Malta80080

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Turkey Turkey852117
Q Croatia Croatia851216
3 Wales flag Wales833212
4 Armenia Armenia82248
5 Latvia Latvia81073

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Albania national flag Albania843115
Q Czech Republic Czech Republic843115
3 Poland Poland832311
4 Republic of Moldova Moldova824210
5 Faroe Islands Faroe Islands80262

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Belgium Belgium862020
Q Austria Austria861119
3 Sweden Sweden831410
4 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan82157
5 Estonia Estonia80171

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Hungary Hungary853018
Q Serbia Serbia842214
3 Montenegro Montenegro832311
4 Lithuania Lithuania81346
5 Bulgaria Bulgaria80444

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Denmark Denmark1071222
Q Slovenia Slovenia1071222
3 Finland Finland1060418
4 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan1060418
5 Northern Ireland flag N. Ireland103079
6 San Marino flag San Marino1000100

Group I

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania1064022
Q Switzerland Switzerland1045117
3 Israel Israel1043315
4 Belarus Belarus1033412
5 Kosovo flag Kosovo1025311
6 Andorra flag Andorra100282

Group J

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal10100030
Q Slovakia Slovakia1071222
3 Luxembourg flag Luxembourg1052317
4 Iceland Iceland1031610
5 Bosnia Bosnia H'vina103079
6 Liechtenstein flag Liechtenstein1000100

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