Israel-Iceland is a match valid for the Euro 2024 qualification playoffs and is played on Thursday at 20:45: live TV, probable formations, predictions.
The geopolitical situation in Israel as we all know is not the best, which is why the Alon Hazan-led team is still forced to play its home matches on a neutral field. The semifinal of the Euro 2024 qualifying playoffs with Iceland will be staged in Budapest, Hungary. The winner will face one of Bosnia or Ukraine in the final that puts one of the last three Euro 2024 passes up for grabs.
Israel has not played an official match since last November, when an external success at home to the selection of Andorra (0-2) was not enough to qualify directly for the international event that will open its doors in June. In fact, Hazan’s men finished third behind Romania and Switzerland, scoring two points less than the Swiss (4 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses). Affiliated with Uefa since 1994, the Israeli national team has never taken part in a European championship final: the only major national team competition it has participated in remains the 1970 Mexican World Cup.
Iceland, Gudmundsson is in
Iceland, on the other hand, recently debuted at both the European Championships (2016) and the World Cup (2018), although they have not combined much since then, returning to worrying anonymity.
Norwegian coach Age Hareide is trying to start a new cycle but in the qualifying round they finished only fourth, behind Portugal, Slovakia and even Luxembourg. Among those summoned for the play-offs this time is Genoa’s jewel, Albert Gudmundsson, who played only two games in the qualifiers. Israel, on the other hand, must do without one of its most talented players, Solomon, struggling with an injury. The attack will be led as usual by 36-year-old Zahavi, also seen at work in Italy with Palermo.
The prediction
Fourth precedent between these two national teams, which faced each other in the Nations League in 2022: the balance is two draws and an Israeli victory, dating back to 2010, however. On all three occasions, the total goals were never less than 4. This time, however, given the importance of what is at stake, we assume an unprolific match, with less than three goals in total and which could end in a draw after the ninety minutes of regulation time.
The probable lineups of Israel-Iceland
ISRAEL (4-2-3-1): Glazer; Dasa, Vitor, Goldberg, Revivo; Dor Peretz, Fani; Khalaili, Gloukh, Turgeman; Zahavi.
ICELAND (4-4-2): Valdimarsson; Palsson, Ingason, Hermannsson, Thorarinsson; Thorsteinsson, Gudmundsson, Johannesson, A. Sigurdsson; Willumsson, Gudjohnsen.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
