Israel - Iceland predictions and free betting tips [21/03/2024]

Today within the Euro-2024 qualification semi-final, the national team of Israel is scheduled to meet the national team of Iceland. The winner of this single-match confrontation will face either Bosnia and Herzegovina or Ukraine in the final round of the play-offs.

Israel

Israel has never taken part in international competitions since it dropped out in the very first round of the 1970 World Cup, but the team still retains hope of earning a spot at the upcoming continental championship in Germany next summer. The blue-and-white finished 3rd in their qualifying group, losing to Romania and Switzerland, but ahead of Belarus, Kosovo and Andorra. Moreover, the nominal hosts excelled in last year's Nations League, securing an elevation to League A and, accordingly, entry to this play-off stage. In November last year, the blue-and-white drew 1:1 with Switzerland and then lost 1:2 to Romania. However, the Israelis concluded the qualifying campaign on a high note, defeating Andorra (0:2).

The national team, ranked 75th in the world according to FIFA, will be aiming to avoid another early departure at this stage of the Euro qualification, as was the case in 2020 (fiasco against Scotland at Hampden Park). The Israeli team call-up includes Bayern Munich’s backup goalkeeper Daniel Peretz, captain Dasa (Dynamo Moscow), midfielder Dor Peretz (Maccabi Tel Aviv, 6 goals), key players Abu Fani (Ferencvaros) and Lavi (Gamba Osaka) and the promising 19-year-old Oscar Glukh (RB Salzburg, 3 goals). The experienced Zahavi (Maccabi Tel Aviv), with 34 goals in 73 national team matches, is the team’s top attacking weapon. The forwards Solomon (Tottenham, 7 goals) and Weismann (6 goals, Salernitana), who were absent in November, are expected to see the pitch straight from the beginning.

Iceland

Iceland slowed down after participating in Euro-2016 and the 2018 World Cup, and for the team to qualify for the upcoming continental championship, the "Vikings" need to go through a play-off due to a successful performance in the Nations League. However, there aren't many reasons for optimism for this team: the red and blue finished in just 4th place in their qualifying group, losing to Portugal, Slovakia and Luxembourg, but ahead of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Liechtenstein, gathering only 10 points out of 30 possible. In November, the Scandinavian team suffered two defeats against Slovakia (4:2) and Portugal (2:0), while in January friendly matches they took care of Guatemala and Honduras. It is important to note that the nominal guests have won only one of the last six official away matches, with five defeats.

Iceland can boast some quality players in the vein of main goalkeeper Valdimarsson (Brentford), defenders Ingason (Midtjylland), Palsson (Eupen) and Sampsted (Twente), midfielders Johannesson (Fortuna Dusseldorf), Ellersson (Venice) and Hlynsdottir (Ajax), as well as forward players Thorsteinsdottir (Leyton, 4 goals) and Albert Gudmundsson (Genoa, 6 goals). Also available are the experienced Johann Berg Gudmundsson (Burnley, 90 games, 8 goals), the young Haraldsson (Lille, 15 games, 3 goals), and Oscarsson (Copenhagen, 6 games, 2 goals) and the top scorer of the team, Finn Bogason (Eupen, 18 goals in 73 matches). On the other hand, centre back Magnusson (Panathinaikos, 49 matches), veteran Bjarnason (113 matches, 15 goals, Brescia) and captain Gunnarsson did not make the team call.

Head-to-Head

In the five previous meetings with Iceland, the Israelis have never lost, winning two and drawing three times.

Israel - Iceland match forecast

The result of the meeting can swing both ways, as the teams are close to each other in terms of level. Admittedly, the Icelanders perform extremely poorly outside their home ground, however, this match will take place on neutral ground in Hungary. The last two head-to-head matches in the 2022 Nations League ended in a draw, so I venture to predict the same outcome once again.