After the absorbing tactical battle in Bordeaux yesterday that saw Germany edge out Italy, a more open game of football looks on the cards in Paris as hosts France take on surprise package Iceland.
France have been at their best only in patches during their path to the last eight but when they have put their best foot forward they have looked capable of putting Iceland to the sword. As hosts potentially 180 minutes away from a place in the final national fervor will be at fever pitch and it isn’t difficult to envisage Didier Deschamps side romping to victory against an Icelandic unit who thus far have compensated for the lack of individual brilliance with an unmatched team ethic and work rate.
The French have failed to score in the first 45 minutes in any of their first four games but have the perfect opportunity to put that right on Sunday and even a single goal in the opening stanza should set up the over 2.5 goals line to be breached. Iceland have managed a goal in each of their games so far with the long throws of Aron Gunnarson a potent threat to defenses of any class let alone one potentially featuring a young Samuel Umtiti making his international debut in the quarter finals of a major tournament.
A narrow win with both teams netting (the last two meetings between the pair have finished 3-2), or France overwhelming their over-achieving opponents strike me as by far the two most likely outcomes and for that reason I am with 3 or more goals in the game which at time of writing is a fraction above even money.
#BestBets – France vs Iceland = OVER 2.5 GOALS
Other posts by Patrick Kinghorn
