Preview: Liechtenstein vs. Iceland - prediction, team news, lineups

Both sides lost in their opening Group J fixtures and look set to struggle in the section.

Match preview

Liechtenstein were comfortably beaten 4-0, as expected, by Portugal on opening night on Thursday.

Keeping the score down to four was a moderate achievement for the minnows, but if it were not for goalkeeper Benjamin Buchel, who made seven saves from 35 shots on goal, it would have been more.

Few European sides have entered the qualification campaign in worse form than Liechtenstein, who finished bottom of their UEFA Nations League group last year.

Losing home and away to Andorra, Moldova and Latvia was a real low point for the nation who hoped the competition would have brought them an opportunity to be competitive among other smaller nations.

A defeat to Gibraltar and a 6-0 thrashing at the hands of African nation Cape Verde further added to the misery before they began qualifying for Euro 2024.

Fourteen defeats in a row suggests Liechtenstein are highly likely to end the section pointless, as their only goal in that time was an injury-time consolation against Andorra.

Rene Pauritsch is currently in caretaker charge but is expected to step aside after this fixture once a permanent replacement for the outgoing Martin Stocklasa is appointed.

He will hope his team can recreate the nation's miraculous 3-0 win over an Iceland side containing Eidur Gudjohnsen back in 2007, but the two were drawn together in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, and Iceland won home and away by an aggregate score of 8-1.

Iceland need a repeat of that if they are to have any chance of progressing to the finals in Germany after an opening day defeat.

Arnar Vidarsson's men were comfortably beaten 3-0 by a Bosnia & Herzegovina side who can no longer call upon the likes of Miralem Pjanic or Edin Visca, while Edin Dzeko was also left on the bench.

Their last competitive win came almost 18 months ago, against their upcoming opponents, the only side they managed to beat during World Cup qualifying, as they finished second-from-bottom, only above Liechtenstein.

The Nations League did not offer much enthusiasm either, as they limped home with four draws from four games against Israel and Albania.

Their decline from the late 2010s is evident, where Iceland reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2016, and held Argentina to a draw in the 2018 World Cup.

Liechtenstein Euro Champ Qualifying form:

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Liechtenstein form (all competitions):

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Iceland Euro Champ Qualifying form:

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Iceland form (all competitions):

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Team News

Liechtenstein may not set up as defensively as they did in Lisbon, as being at home may give them more belief to be a little more front footed.

Pauritsch opted to start with a 5-4-1 formation, but he could decide to start with one or two more attacking options this time.

Noah Frick could be one of the players given an opportunity, but his brother Yanik Frick, who scored in this fixture in 2021, is not part of the squad.

Iceland Captain Aron Gunnarsson could be a part of the squad here after he missed the defeat in Bosnia on Thursday.

Sverrir Ingi Ingason was the only player to pull out of the squad late, as the PAOK defender is injured.

The main attacking threat from the visitors should come from Johann Berg Gudmundsson, who has featured regularly for runaway Championship leaders Burnley, and Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson, who is enjoying a fine season at OH Leuven in Belgium.

Liechtenstein possible starting lineup:

Buchel; Wolfinger, Malin, Traber, Hofer, Meier; Frommelt, Wieser, Hasler; Gassner, Frick

Iceland possible starting lineup:

Runarsson; Palsson, Magnusson, Gretarsson, Olafsson; A Sigurdsson, Traustason, Haraldsson, Thorsteinsson; Gudmundsson, Finnbogason

We say: Liechtenstein 0-3 Iceland

There is not much down for the 198th-ranked side in the world in this match or in this section, as Liechtenstein will likely finish without a point.

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