Iceland vs Armenia

Iceland will be looking to throw their 2022 World Cup qualification a lifeline when they take on underperforming Armenia at the Laugardalsvöllur.

Having won just one of their first six World Cup qualification Group J matches (D1, L4), Iceland’s hopes of reaching back-to-back World Cup finals are already running thin. A defeat to second-placed Armenia here would hammer the final nail in Iceland’s coffin as they seek revenge for a 2-0 away loss in the reverse fixture back in March. With three matchdays left to go after this one, Iceland still have mathematical chances of securing the all-important play-off spot. However, they need to defy their disastrous home form over the past 12 months, having lost four of their five competitive matches on home turf in that period (D1), conceding 2+ goals on each occasion. Yet, the hosts can take some courage from keeping Armenia at bay in both previous H2Hs on home soil (W2).

Meanwhile, Armenia’s three-match winning start to their World Cup qualifying campaign keeps them well in the race to capture the coveted second-place finish despite the visitors going winless in their last three Group J fixtures (D2, L1). Armenia wasted a golden opportunity to extend their slender one-point lead over third-placed Romania last time out, as group minnows Liechtenstein held them to an underwhelming 1-1 draw on foreign soil. The ‘Collective Team’ – who are seeking their first-ever World Cup finals appearance as a sovereign nation – have endured mixed fortunes across their three away matches in the ongoing World Cup qualifying campaign (W1, D1, L1). Each of those three games has seen one or both sides fail to get on the scoresheet, highlighting the importance of scoring first.