The second match of Saturday’s Euro2016 action sees the tournament move back into Group F as Iceland vs Hungary in Marseille. This will be the biggest stage many of the players involved in the match will have played on and that could be quite significant when we look back on this one.
Hungary go into the game knowing if they win they are into the knockout stages while an Iceland would all but seal their qualification even if it is only as a third placed finisher as four points would surely be enough to secure that.
If you did no research and just listened to the various teams of commentators and pundits you would think Iceland have made ground breaking miracles to be in this tournament which is utter cobblers. They won the right to be there and they did it courtesy of a young, improving side qualifying ahead of both Turkey and the Netherlands.
In their first match against Portugal they didn’t look overawed which was encouraging. They sat deep but that wasn’t a minnows hanging on against the giants thing that was how they play but we saw both with their goal and the chance they had late on that they can produce in the opposition half.
Key Man
Gylfi Sigurdsson couldn’t really get into the game against a dogged Portugal defence in the first match but he’s the standout player in this Iceland side and against inferior opposition I fancy we might get to see why here. Look to the Swansea man to be a big influence on the game.
Hungary
Full credit must go to Hungary. I described them as the worst team in the tournament heading into it but their 2-0 win over Austria was a really positive one but before we get carried away with it we should recognise that the Austrians should have been out of sight before Hungary scored and Austria were reduced to 10 men so the game flattered Hungary in the end.
Let’s not take anything away from them though. We’ve seen inferior sides in this tournament get into the danger zone and freeze or panic and it all go wrong yet Hungary didn’t do that. Their goals were well taken and had a bit of quality about them and a repeat of that composure could see them right here.
Key Man
Were it not for Gabor Kiraly in the first game then Austria would have run up a bit of a cricket score in that first half and although Iceland aren’t the most naturally attacking I do expect them to test the former Crystal Palace keeper so Hungary will need the tracksuit bottoms wearing keeper to be at his best again.
Team News
Iceland played really well against Portugal so unless they have any late injuries or injuries they’ve not declared then they might well be unchanged. They don’t need to change formation but they could do if they want to.
Hungary will definitely be without their right back Attila Fiola as he is out with the injury he picked up in the win over Austria. Zoltan Stieber scored the second goal which might have been enough to earn him a place in the starting line up.
Head to Head
There have been 10 meetings between these two nations throughout history. Hungary have won seven of them with Iceland winning the other three. You have to go back six matches to 1995 for the last time Iceland beat Hungary. Hungary won the most recent meeting between the two 4-0 in a friendly in August 2011.
Betting
I think the tables have turned since those days though. I think Iceland now go into this match as the stronger and better of the two sides and as such I fancy them to edge their way to victory here.
I still maintain that Hungary aren’t much. All credit to them for taking advantage of a positive situation in their first match but in a way that result only helps Iceland here. Will Hungary really come out open and risk conceding and losing or will they keep it tight knowing that for all intents and purposes a draw will see them through?
I fancy they’ll go with the latter option. For Hungary now it is all about clinging on and trying to nail another point and qualifying so I can see Iceland having plenty of the ball and having it in good areas as well. The question then comes whether they have the quality to open up a stubborn defence but you have to concentrate for long periods when you invite teams on and as Wales found out on Thursday that isn’t easy.
I’m happy to go out on a limb and support Iceland here. I think they are a very efficient and effective side and while I want all the draw cover in the world given how I see the game playing out I’m still siding with Iceland. I think they’ll do the bulk of the attacking but we know they can keep the back door bolted when they need to.
That latter reason makes me have a small tickle on Iceland to win to nil too which they did in five of their six qualifying wins including both wins over the Dutch. Iceland on the draw no bet and the win to nil lines for me here.
Tips
PUSH – Back Iceland (0AH) to beat Hungary for a 4/10 stake at 1.93 with Bet365
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Back Iceland to win to nil for a 2/10 stake at 4.05 with 188bet
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