Romania vs Iceland

Romania will be looking to all but cement second place in World Cup Qualification Group J when they meet Iceland at the Stadionul Steaua.

A hard-earned 1-0 home win over Armenia last time out catapulted Romania to second place in Group J, allowing them complete control of their own World Cup qualifying fate. However, the Romanians are not off the hook yet, as they hold a slender one-point lead over third-placed North Macedonia with two qualifiers left to play. A lack of firepower up top that has seen the ‘Tricolours’ score under 1.5 goals in each of their last three World Cup qualifying games has been an issue. That said, they have netted 2+ goals in three of their four historical meetings with Iceland (W3, L1), pulling off an overwhelming 4-0 triumph in their only previous H2H on home soil. Staying compact at the back could prove crucial to Romania’s hopes of winning here, as their last three competitive home matches won/lost all saw the victor keep a clean sheet (W2, L1).

Despite putting group whipping boys Liechtenstein to the sword last time out (4-0), Iceland’s chances of reaching back-to-back World Cup finals for the first time in the nation’s history are long gone. An utterly underwhelming Group J campaign that has seen them win just two of their eight matches so far (D2, L4) gives the visitors an almost impossible task of sneaking the play-off spot in the final two rounds. Even if they win this encounter and follow it up with a victory away to North Macedonia on the last qualifying matchday, the ‘Strákarnir okkar’ would still need other results to go their way to make it happen. Arnar Viðarsson’s men have gone winless in their last ten internationals versus teams better ranked than themselves (D1, L9), highlighting the difficulty of the task ahead.