World champions, France will be taking on Iceland for a Group H fixture of the UEFA EURO Qualifiers.
Erik Hamren’s Iceland side will be looking to bag a positive result as they host France at the Laugardalsvollur.
Match Details
Date- Saturday, October 12
Kick-Off- 12:15 AM (IST)
Venue-Laugardalsvollur
Iceland Team News
Iceland currently finds itself at the third spot in the group with 12 points on board.
With four wins and two defeats in six games, Iceland is three points behind France and Turkey who are level on points.
Iceland will be looking to redeem themselves post a 4-2 defeat to Albania.
Iceland is likely to be set up in a way in which they could soak up the pressure and hit France on the break. Arnor Traustason and Johann Berg Gudmundsson could be the central figures in leading the counter-attack.
Kari Aranson and Emil Hallfredson’s presence in the field, however, makes Iceland vulnerable because of the lack of pace.
Apart from Gunnarson, the Iceland squad seem don’t have any of such injuries to give an update about.
Iceland is likely to start with a back five instead of a four with Hordour Magnusson and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson joining the line of defence.
France Team News
Didier Deschamps’ men have won five and lost one game off the six games in the qualifiers. Their solitary defeat came against Turkey.
Post the 2-0 defeat to Turkey, France has won three games on the bounce while scoring 11 goals in the process.
France won 4-0 against Iceland at home in March and would be looking for maximum points this time again.
With Iceland likely to park the bus, Deschamps might go with an attacking formation that allows Antoine Griezmann to play off Giroud.
Jonathan Ikone and Alassane Plea could possibly get some game time as well.
In terms of injury, the French outfit will be missing out Hugo Lloris and Kylian Mbappe.With Lloris ruled out, Alphonse Areola can come in his place to keep between the sticks. Paul Pogbam, Dembele, and Umtiti are out of contention as well.
There might be a shuffle between N’golo Kante and Thomas Lemar to partner alongside Matuidi and Tolisso.
Predicted Lineups
Iceland-Halldorsson; Hermannsson, Arnason, Magnusson, R. Sigurdsson, Skulason; Gudmundsson, G Sigurdsson, Bjarnason, Traustason; Bodvarsson
France-Areola; Pavard, Varane, Kimpembe, Digne; Kante, Tolisso, Matuidi; Coman, Giroud, Griezmann
Key Points
The last time the two teams met, it was France who registered a comprehensive 4-0 win against Iceland.
With Iceland likely to sit back, N’golo Kante and Matuidi can in midfield have it in them of finding the right pass and disrupting the counter with crucial interventions.
For Iceland, Arnor Traustason and Johann Berg Gudmundsson will be the main men on attack while striking on the counter.
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