🔥 Iceland Eye Revenge as Ukraine Come to Town
Iceland vs Ukraine Match Preview
There’s some extra fire in this one. Iceland is ready to host Ukraine on Friday night in World Cup qualifying, and there’s a real sense of payback in the air. The Laugardalsvöllur will be rocking, and the home crowd could make a big difference as “Our Boys” look to keep their dream of another World Cup appearance alive.
Iceland kicked off the campaign with a bang, smashing Azerbaijan 5–0 at home before pushing France hard in a narrow 2–1 defeat. That performance showed they’re no pushovers — especially in Reykjavik.
Form Guide
Iceland: 4 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses in their last 8 home matches (and one of those defeats wasn’t even in Iceland).
Ukraine: Failed to win 4 of their last 5 away games, losing twice in that run.
So, the hosts are much stronger at home, while Ukraine’s travels haven’t been going smoothly.
Head-to-Head
These two met not long ago in the Euro 2024 play-offs — a pretty wild one that ended 2–1 to Ukraine in Wroclaw. Iceland went ahead thanks to an absolute screamer from Albert Gudmundsson, but they lost control after that and got punished. Expect them to remember that night well and use it as fuel here.
Team News
Ukraine have a few problems heading into this one. Key men Mykhailo Mudryk and Oleksandr Zinchenko are both out — two players who made a big impact in that last meeting. Without them, Ukraine might struggle to control the game the way they’d like.
As for Iceland, coach Arnar Gunnlaugsson will stick to what’s been working — strong set pieces, direct play, and a few creative sparks up front. They’ve got some technically sharp attackers who can work tight spaces and punish any mistakes.
Players to Watch
Albert Gudmundsson (Iceland): The man loves the big occasion. He’s creative, brave, and can score from anywhere.
Roman Yaremchuk (Ukraine): Ukraine’s best bet for a goal with Mudryk out. If he gets service, he’ll be dangerous.
Prediction
Iceland will fancy their chances here. Home crowd, good form, and a bit of revenge in the air — it all lines up nicely. Ukraine are solid, but their missing stars might cost them in this kind of atmosphere.
Predicted Score: Iceland 2–1 Ukraine
Betting Tips
Draw No Bet – Iceland looks good value given Ukraine’s poor away record.
Both Teams to Score could land too — both sides have attacking threats.
If you like a long shot, Gudmundsson to score anytime feels like a fun punt.
Final Thoughts
It’s shaping up to be a tight and emotional game in Reykjavik. Iceland have the form, the crowd, and the motivation to finally get one back over Ukraine — and maybe take another big step toward World Cup qualification.