Iceland and Ukraine to finish all square

On Tuesday night, Iceland host Ukraine in World Cup qualifying, as both teams look to enhance their chances of qualification for next year’s World Cup.

Iceland are currently third in the standings, a point behind the visitors and three behind group leaders Croatia. However, the race for both the automatic and potential play-off spots is well and truly alive.

The home side’s chances of topping the group suffered a blow last time out, as they suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat against Finland. The defeat followed consecutive wins over Kosovo and Croatia in qualifying.

Iceland do have a good home record in World Cup qualifying, winning five of their last six qualifiers on home soil. They have also managed four clean sheets in their last five qualifiers on home soil.

One negative for Iceland is that they have not beaten Ukraine in three meetings, although two of the three meetings have finished in draws.

Ukraine are currently second in Group I and will be hopeful of still sealing top spot and automatic qualification for next year’s finals in their neighbouring country.

Andriy Shevchenko’s side have been in decent form of late in qualifying, winning four of their last five qualifiers. Last time out the visitors recorded a relatively comfortable 2-0 home win over Turkey.

Ukraine have tightened up in defence of late, as they have conceded just two goals in their last five games, keeping three clean sheets in the process.

However, the visitors have a mixed away record in qualifying, as they have won one of their last four games on their travels. That one win did come in their last away qualifier, though, a 2-1 victory in Finland.

This could be a tight game between two teams that are very realistic contenders to qualify for Russia 2018. Forebet predicts that the game will end all square and both teams will fail to make up ground on group leaders Croatia.