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Iceland will look to maintain qualifying hopes when they visit Kosovo on Friday, in Group I of the European World Cup 2018 qualifiers.
Kosovo started the group with an impressive 1-1 draw in Finland, but they ended up getting blown out in their next three matches, losing with a 11-0 aggregate scoreline against Croatia, Ukraine and Turkey – though they played well last time out, only losing 0-2 in Turkey. The hosts have managed to attract a few new players since their last match, most notably Atdhe Nuhiu (Sheffield Wednesday), so they will hope those guys can help improve the quality of the team.
Iceland has 2 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss so far in Group I, but that is not a bad record at all considering the fact that they already played Ukraine and Croatia away from home, while also beating Turkey 2-0 at home. The last match for Iceland was a 0-2 loss in a friendly against Mexico, played in USA.
Bet on Kosovo vs. Iceland and claim your 100% (100 Eur) free bet at Ohmbet now!Team news & lineups:
Kosovo will miss two of its best players, top scorer Bunjaku (Aue) and instrumental midfielder Alushi (Maccabi Haifa). Iceland continues to miss key players Finnbogason (Augsburg), Sighorsson (Nantes), Bjarnason (Aston Villa) or Gudmundsson (Burnley) – important missings, but most have been out for the previous qualifying matches as well.
Kosovo: Ujkani (Pisa) – Pnishi (Grasshopper), Rrahmani (Lokomotiva), Perdedaj (1860 Munich), Paqarada (Sandhausen) – Berisha (Terek), Celina (Twente), Rashika (Vitesse), Berisha (Salzburg) – Muriqi (Gencler) – Nuhiu (Sheffield Wednesday)
Iceland: Halldorsson (Randers) – Saevarsson (Hammarby), Sigurdsson (Fulham), Arnason (Omonia), Skulason (Lokeren) – Hallfredsson (Udinese), Gunnarsson (Cardiff), Sigurdsson (Swansea), Gislason (Nurnberg) – Boovarsson (Wolves), Kjartansson (Maccabi Tel Aviv)
Kosovo is a team with decent potential, having competent players who activate at first league professional clubs all over Europe. They are still one of the worst teams on the continent, but they are not a pummel horse, like for example Gibraltar. Also, traveling to Eastern Europe will not be easy for Iceland, so the visitors need to be careful ahead of this game.
Still, I fully expect Iceland to take the three points. The team has played well in these qualies even with a few important players missing, and they know they absolutely have to win this game. This is an evenly matched group with 4 teams having a real shot at going through, so dropping points in Kosovo would put a massive (almost insurmountable) dent in Iceland’s hope for qualification.
I reckon a well oiled machine like Iceland, a team that excels at chemistry, playing relations, discipline and organization, is the perfect opponent to defeat a Kosovo team which is just a collection of decent players who aren`t that used to playing together – especially now that they have naturalized 5 new players.
Iceland has proven to be a trustworthy team in the last few years, so I`m backing them to win this. My tip is Iceland to cover the -1 asian handicap. Odds might not be spectacular, but I feel they are good enough to make the bet worth it. Prediction: Kosovo – Iceland 0-2.
Pick: Iceland (-1 Asian Handicap)
Odds: 1.56 @ Pinnacle
Stake: 8
Possible profit: 4.48
Event date: 24 March
