Slovakia vs Iceland - European Championship Qualifiers on November 16, 2023: Predicted outcome.

When the talk turns to Iceland and football, every fan undoubtedly recalls the EURO 2016 in France, where the football underdog surprised everyone by defeating the birthplace of football, England, 2-1 in the Round of 16. Since then, however, the Vikings have fallen into relative obscurity, having no chance at an EM ticket for the final in Germany unless the Slovakia vs. Iceland bet on Tip 2 pays off.

Even with an away victory, the Icelandic squad would have to grasp onto a very slippery lifeline and would additionally need an away win against Portugal on Sunday, while Slovakia would have to lose to Bosnia. To make matters worse, the Luxembourg squad, still in contention, must not secure the full six points from their last two open matches.

However, there's not much indicating that Iceland can force a decisive showdown with an away win in Slovakia. After all, the Sokoli not only won the first leg but have also won five of the last seven EM qualification games (with two losses). Therefore, in the Slovakia vs. Iceland prediction, the advantage is clearly in favor of Slovakia.

Slovakia

The Slovak national football team has been participating in UEFA and FIFA competitions since the 1990s, much like they did between 1939 and 1944. So far, the Sokoli (translated as the Falcons) have qualified for the 2010 World Cup, the 2016 EM, and the 2021 EM.

The recent journey of Slovakia in the European tournament in the summer of 2021 ended in the group stage. Accordingly, Francesco Calzona's team has set high goals for the next final in Germany, for which the ticket should finally be secured.

Iceland

The Icelandic national football team undoubtedly reached its pinnacle during EURO 2016, navigating through the qualification phase, surpassing teams like the Netherlands and Turkey, and eliminating heavyweight England 2-1 in the actual tournament in France.

Even the golden generation of the Vikings managed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. However, Iceland was absent from both the EURO 2021 and the Winter World Cup 2022. Much suggests that the team, coached by Åge Hareide, might miss out on the third consecutive final.

Head-to-head comparison record

In a total of six encounters between the two nations, Slovakia leads the head-to-head with four wins. The Sokoli secured a 2-1 victory in the first leg in Reykjavik five months ago and also won their last home match against Iceland 3-1 in Žilina, dating back to a friendly on November 17, 2015.

Betting Tips and Odds for Slovakia vs Iceland Prediction

Given the Sokoli's 2-1 victory in Reykjavik and the current situation, the prediction for Slovakia vs. Iceland leans towards a point gain for the home team, securing their third consecutive EM participation. Slovakia only lost both group games against Portugal and collected 16 out of 18 possible points in their other six matches. In contrast, the Icelandic squad lost seven of their last 14 international matches (three wins, four draws).

KEY-FACTS – Slovakia vs Iceland TIPS:

1. - Slovakia won four of the previous six international matches against Iceland (one draw, one loss).
2. - Iceland lost seven of the last 14 international matches (three wins, four draws).
3. - Slovakia won five of the last seven international matches (two losses).

Because the Sokoli don't need a win but can solidify the second spot with a draw, while the guests are compelled to win to maintain a slim chance for EURO 2024, we anticipate a defensive approach from the hosts. This makes the combined bet on Double Chance 1X with under 3.5 goals exceptionally intriguing.