Preview: Iceland vs. Saudi Arabia - prediction, team news, lineups

The Green Falcons are building towards their World Cup opener against Argentina on November 22, and they have played three friendlies over the last couple of weeks as part of their preparation.

Match preview

Iceland were present at the 2018 World Cup, competing in the group stage of the competition for the first time, but they lost two of their three fixtures to drop out of the tournament in the first round.

Our Boys will not compete at the tournament in Qatar, though, having finished fifth in their qualification group, collecting just nine points from 10 matches during a disappointing campaign.

Iceland are unbeaten in their last six games, though, including a 1-1 draw with Albania in the UEFA Nations League at the end of September.

Arnar Vidarsson's side will also face South Korea in a friendly on November 11 before taking on Lithuania in the semi-finals of the Baltic Cup on November 16.

There are no points or prizes on offer for Iceland in this match, but the national team will be bidding to keep their recent unbeaten run going, while their attention will soon switch to next year's Euro 2024 qualification fixtures, having been drawn in Group J with Bosnia-Herzegovina, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Portugal and Slovakia.

Saudi Arabia were impressive during qualification for the 2022 World Cup, picking up 23 points from their 10 matches to top Group B ahead of Japan.

The Green Falcons played two friendlies in the latter stages of September, drawing 0-0 with both Ecuador and the United States, while they have also been in action three times over the last couple of weeks.

Herve Renard's side recorded a 1-0 victory over North Macedonia on October 22, while they have drawn their last two fixtures against Albania and Honduras.

Saudi Arabia are building towards their World Cup opener against Argentina on November 22, while the national side will also take on Poland and Mexico in the group stage of the competition.

The Green Falcons famously reached the last-16 stage of the 1994 World Cup, overcoming Belgium and Morocco in the process, but they have been eliminated in the group stage in their last four tournaments, including in 2018.

Iceland International Friendlies form:

D

L

D

L

W

W

Iceland form (all competitions):

D

D

W

D

W

D

Saudi Arabia International Friendlies form:

L

D

D

W

D

D

Team News

Iceland will be far from at full strength for this match, with a number of their players still involved for their clubs at this stage of the season, so head coach Vidarsson has had a limited pool to choose from.

Ottar Magnus Karlsson is the joint-leading goalscorer in the squad with Aron Gunnarsson, having struck twice for the national side, and he is expected to feature in the final third of the field.

A number of players will be hoping to make their debuts for Iceland in this match, including Logi Tomasson, who could potentially feature at left-back for the European nation.

As for Saudi Arabia, head coach Renard will again make full use of his squad for this contest.

Abdullah Al-Hamdan, who has five goals for the national side, is expected to feature in the final third of the field alongside teenager Abdullah Radif.

Fahad Al-Muwallad is the most experienced member of the squad with 72 caps, and the 28-year-old is again likely to start in a midfield position, while Mohamed Kanno and Abdullah Otayf should also be in the first XI.

Iceland possible starting lineup:

Schram; Gunnlaugsson, Muminovic, H Gunnarsson, Tomasson; A Gunnarsson, Einarsson, Andrason, Magnusson; Karlsson, Djuric

Saudi Arabia possible starting lineup:

Al-Owais; Al-Burayk, Tambakti, Bamsaud, Al-Amri; Otayf, Kanno, Al-Muwallad, Al-Faraj; Al-Hamdan, Radif

We say: Iceland 0-2 Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia will fancy their chances of winning this match considering the players that will be absent for Iceland. We are expecting it to be a relatively close game in terms of the scoreline, but Saudi Arabia should have too much quality for their opponents over the course of the 90 minutes.

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