Austria – Iceland

Austria plays Iceland on 30 May in Innsbruck in an International Friendly. Both teams failed to qualify for the World Cup.

Austria never really had a chance to qualify for Brazil 2014 but their performance in the qualifying group was actually pretty good. Germany and Sweden were always going to be too strong for Austria, but today`s hosts finished 3rd in front of Ireland with some very good results along the way – and just 3 points behind Sweden. The team is on an uptrend with some young players and the future looks great. After the World Cup campaign Austria played some very good football in friendlies, winning 1-0 vs. the United States and holding a very strong Uruguay team to a 1-1 draw.

Austria lineup: Almer – Garics, Hinteregger, Dragovic, Suttner – Baumgartlinger, Leitgeb – Ivanschitz, Junuzovic, Arnautovic – Janko

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Iceland earned a historic playoff berth in the World Cup qualifiers, finishing the group over Norway and Slovenia and behind Switzerland. Not such a tough group but still a remarkable achievement. Unfortunately for Iceland they were no match for Croatia in the playoffs and lost 2-0 aggregate. After the disappointment of that playoff, Iceland lost both friendly games they played vs. Sweden and Wales (0-2 and 1-3), played poor football and they do not look very good at the current time.

Iceland lineup: Gunnleifsson – Saevarsson, R.Sigurdsson, Arnason, Skulason – Gunnarsson, Jonsson – Hallfredsson, G.Sigurdsson, Gudmundsson – Sigthorsson

Each sides misses a few players but still can field strong lineups. Austria looks much better lately and they also have consistency of results over a long period of time. Iceland is known as a very bad away team (2 years ago they were on a run of 17 winless matches – 13 defeats, 4 draws) and will find it hard to contain an in-form Austrian side in Innsbruck. Iceland is dishearted and out of form and I can easily see them losing this game. My tip is Austria to win this friendly; maybe even with handicap, but I will stay on the safe side with Austria to win which has good enough odds for me (odds which are dropping). Prediction: Austria – Iceland 2-0.

Pick: Austria
Odds: 1.62 @ Bet365
Stake: 9
Possible profit: 5.58
Event date: 30 May