It’s Two from Four in Group I
When European and World Cup qualifying reaches a stage where there are only two group games remaining, there are usually two, maybe three teams in contention maximum to finish top of the group.
However, UEFA World Cup Qualifying Group I has four teams battling it out for top spot, in what is going to be a thrilling end to the qualifying campaign.
Croatia sit top of the group with 16 points and they play Finland at home, which should see them move to 19 points. Iceland are second, also on 16 points and they must travel to third place Turkey, who are 2 points further back.
This match between Turkey and Croatia at the New Eskisehir Stadium will have a huge bearing on who is in Russia next year and a win for either team would be massive.
Turkey kept themselves in contention for a place in the 2018 World Cup finals by defeating Croatia 1-0 at home last time out. This was a very important victory as they lost their previous match 2-0 in Ukraine and anything other than a win would have seen them out of contention.
Trends show Turkey are undefeated in their last fourteen home international matches and they certainly enjoy playing in-front of their own fans. Ten of those fourteen matches have ended in victory and Turkey have defeated Croatia, Montenegro, Sweden, Netherlands and upcoming opponents, Iceland in recent home matches.
Turkey have kept five clean sheets in their previous eight home games.
Iceland make the trip to Eskisehir having defeated Ukraine 2-0 at home in their previous World Cup qualifying game. This was a big result for Iceland because prior to that win they suffered a shock defeat in Finland, a loss which has severely dented their hopes of finishing in first place.
Iceland have been superb at home, as they aim to build on their success at the 2016 European Championship but have struggled when asked to play away from home.
Trends show Iceland have won only one of their four group games on the road and that was a narrow 2-1 victory over the minnows of Kosovo. They have tasted defeat in Croatia and Finland plus were held to a 1-1 draw in Ukraine.
Iceland have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their previous seventeen away World Cup qualifying matches and have failed to score a goal in 50% of their away matches played in the current campaign.
Team news and Turkey will be without creative midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu who is suspended for this match. They will be looking towards Besiktas striker Cenk Tosun for goals.
Iceland also have a player suspended and Udinese midfielder Emil Hallfredsson will be a big loss for the visitors. Iceland will be looking towards Gylfi Sigurdsson and Alfred Finnbogason for goals.
Given the form of Turkey at home and the way Iceland have struggled on the road, everything points to a home win. Turkey could even take this match by keeping a clean sheet, which would leave them in a strong position ahead of the trip to Finland.
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