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    Categories: 2021

Sports: Iceland vs Armenia prediction, preview, team news and more | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers

Oct 6 2021
Iceland are looking to avenge their first-leg loss to Armenia
Sachin Bhat 
ANALYST
Modified Oct 06, 2021 08:14 PM IST 
PREVIEW

Armenia are looking to continue their fairytale run in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on Thursday as Iceland host them in Reykjavik.

The Collective Team are currently second to Germany in Group J with 11 points in six games and primed to qualify for the second round.

Armenia created history by winning their first three games of a World Cup qualifying campaign for the first time, although their form has nosedived ever since.

They have drawn against North Macedonia and Lichtenstein while losing 6-0 at the hands of Germany. But the Caucasus outfit are looking to bounce back against the hapless Icelanders.

Languishing second-last in the group with four points in six games, the Strakarnir okkar are running out of time to secure their second-ever World Cup appearance.


There have been only four previous clashes between the sides, with Iceland winning twice.

Armenia's only triumph against the Nordic outfit coincidentally came in this qualifying campaign in March, winning 2-0 on home soil.

Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson og Jón Guðni Fjóluson verða ekki með A landsliði karla í komandi leikjum vegna meiðsla – heimaleikjum gegn Armeníu og Liechtenstein í undankeppni HM. Leikmannahópurinn kemur saman á mánudag.
2:28 AM · Oct 4, 2021

Iceland Form Guide (all competitions): W-D-L-D-L

Armenia Form Guide (all competitions): D-L-D-L-D


Iceland

The Strakarnir okkar have called up 25 players for their games against Armenia and Lichtenstein.

The squad features experienced stars like Birkir Saevarsson and Birkir Bjarnason, as well as Ari Skulason.

However, they've confirmed that Johann Gudmundsson and Jon Fjoluson won't be available because of injuries.

Daniel Gretarsson and Mikael Ellertsson have been summoned as their replacements.

Injured: Johann Gudmundsson, Jon Fjoluson

Suspended: None

Unavailable: None

Armenia

Head coach Joaquin Caparros has named a 25-man squad for this month's qualifying games against Iceland and Romania.

There are 12 foreign-based players, including AS Roma star Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Hoffenheim's Sargis Adamyan.

Twenty-nine-year-old Columbus Crew forward Lucas Zelarayan is among the four players in line to make their international debuts.

Injured: None

Suspended: None

Unavailable: None


Iceland (4-3-3): Runar Runarsson; Birkir Saevarsson, Brynjar Bjarnason, Hjortur Hermannsson, Ari Skulason; Isak Johannesson, Gudlaugur Palsson, Birkir Bjarson, Elias Omarsson, Albert Gudmundsson, Andri Gudjhonsen.

Armenia (4-1-3-2): David Yurchenko; Davit Teteryan, Varazdat Haroyan, Andre Calisir, Kavo Hovhannisyan; Solomon Udo; Tigran Barseghyan, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Khoren Bayramyan; Aleksandre Karapetiyan, Sargis Adamyan.


Armenia have been the biggest surprise in the group and are currently leading the race to qualify for the playoffs with a second-place finish.

Iceland's fairytale Euro 2016 campaign seems like a distant memory as the side have consistently flattered to deceive since then.

In what was their best chance to make a return to the world stage, the Strakarnir okkar are blowing it with poor performances.

Armenia, who beat them in the first leg a few months ago, stand a chance to complete the double over Iceland, and that is the result we are predicting.

Prediction: Iceland 1-2 Armenia

Emil Lazarian: “I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS