(Football news) The opponents, who have six points and are now in fourth place in the division, are coming off a 2-1 victory over Liechtenstein, while Iceland, who are currently in fifth place, lost their most recent game 3-1 to Luxembourg.
Famously participating in the 2016 Euro Championship and the 2018 World Cup, Iceland made it all the way to the quarterfinals of the European Championship in their lone appearance in the competition’s grand finale.
However, Our Boys were not at Euro 2020, and given their troubles in Group J thus far, it is very difficult to see them being in a position to finish first or second. Age Hareide’s team has only accrued three points from their five games in the group, and as a result, they are currently in fifth place, seven points behind Slovakia in second place.
In their last three games, including a 3-1 loss away to Luxembourg on Friday night, Iceland has lost despite thrashing Liechtenstein 7-0 at the end of March.
The national team currently has three straight home games against Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, and Bosnia-Herzegovina, and they must win all three to put themselves in a position to maybe slip into the top two in the campaign’s latter stages.
Edin Dzeko scored early to give Bosnia-Herzegovina the lead, and Simon Luchinger’s own goal made it 2-0 before the end of the first half. Liechtenstein was defeated 2-1 by Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday.
Sandro Wolfinger cut the score in half in the 21st minute, but the home team held on to earn all three points, putting them on six points in Group J, good for fourth place in the standings.
The significance of obtaining a favourable outcome in this match is highlighted by the fact that Meho Kodro’s team is currently four points behind Slovakia in second position after the same amount of games.
Bosnia-Herzegovina has never advanced to the European Championship finals, however they were present at the 2014 World Cup and took part in the tournament before losing in the group stage.
The visitors defeated Iceland 3-0 in the rematch back in March, but they had lost three straight games in the group before turning things around against Liechtenstein on Friday night.
Iceland Euro Qualifiers Form
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Bosnia-Herzegovina Euro Qualifiers Form
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Horour Magnusson, a central defender for Iceland, will not play because he was suspended for the team’s 3-1 loss to Luxembourg on Friday night.
As a result, Alfons Sampsted might start, while Johann Berg Gudmundsson of Burnley will once more have a berth in the midfield.
Alfreo Finnbogason, who has 16 goals for the national team, is expected to keep his spot in the final third of the pitch, along with Lille player Hakon Arnar Haraldsson, 20, who is also anticipated to start.
The same starting lineup for this game would not be surprising given that Bosnia-Herzegovina did not report any new injury concerns following their victory over Liechtenstein.
Despite the fact that Dzeko, 37, is towards the end of his playing days, he is still considered to be the best player in his nation, and on Friday night, he scored once more.
Nemanja Bilbija is probably going to stay in the last third of the field, and Miralem Pjanic, Rade Krunic, and Sead Kolasinac, three recognisable names, will start.
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