Iceland-Portugal is a match on the fourth day of Euro 2024 qualifying Group J and is played on Tuesday at 20:45: predictions.
Germany’s European Championship qualification threatens to be a formality for Portugal, who are literally dominating Group J.
Impressive numbers for the Lusitanians, who in the first three days have recorded three victories, 13 goals scored and not even one conceded. And if Liechtenstein and Luxembourg were not rightly considered reliable tests, another show of strength came on Saturday against one of the two selections together with Slovakia that, in theory, could have posed more of a threat. And instead, Dzeko and Pjanic’s Bosnia also received the same treatment: in Lisbon, last Saturday, it ended 3-0, but the final result could have been wider if Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates had realised a few more goal-balls. To say, therefore, that the team led by former Belgium coach Roberto Martinez is strolling is no exaggeration. And Portugal could, in fact, close the games with a victory in Iceland on matchday four, with which they would mortgage first place and qualification.
Awaiting more conclusive tests, the 3-4-3, which the new selector has been asked to turnaround from the Santos era, seems to be working like a charm.
Runarsson
Portugal scored repeatedly, found the way to goal easily and managed to involve just about every quality offensive player in their squad. Against Bosnia, Ronaldo himself did not get on the scoresheet and Martinez had the luxury of keeping someone like Leao on the bench. We do not expect a different script against the Icelanders, who, after their 7-0 thrashing of Liechtenstein in March, immediately came back down to earth, narrowly defeating Slovakia (1-2), at this point the number one candidate for second place. Only three points in the standings for the men led by experienced coach Age Hareide, whose qualification hopes are already at rock bottom.
The prediction
The Portugal seen in 2023 is a goal machine, excellent at handling the ball and very difficult to score against. It is unlikely that Iceland, who are no longer the selection that had amazed everyone between 2016 and 2020, will be able to limit the damage. The Lusitanians, heavy favourites for victory, should score between three and six goals, without conceding any.
Iceland-Portugal likely line-up
- ISLAND (4-3-3): Runarsson; Sampsted, Palsson, Ingason, Magnusson; J. Gudmundsson, Fridriksson, Willumsson; A. Gudmundsson, Finnbogason, Thorsteinsson.
- PORTOGALLO (3-4-3): Diogo Costa; Danilo Pereira, Ruben Dias, Antonio Silva; Cancelo, Ruben Neves, Bruno Fernandes, Guerreiro; Gonçalo Ramos, Ronaldo, Joao Felix.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 0-3
