Prediction: Mexico vs Iceland

Verdict: Both teams to score – No

Best Odds: 19/29

Bookmaker: 888sport

Mexico begin their final stage of World Cup preparation with a friendly against the smallest country to have ever qualified to football’s biggest competition, Iceland. Having impressed and dazzled at the European Championship in 2016, the Vikings continue their rise to prominence and will hope to upset El Tri on Saturday morning CET.

Mexico

Iceland match is the first time Mexico will have a full roster to choose from in 2018. El Tri kicked off the new year with a 1-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in January but their squad included only players based in North America.

With the 2018 FIFA Wold Cup just around the corner, El Tri head coach Juan Carlos Osorio this time added all of his Europe-based stars who will represent the majority of his team in Russia. Following the most recent trend of facing countries that are geographically close to group rivals, Mexico opted to go for Iceland who are playing a similar style El Tri can hope to get when they play Sweden in Group F. El Tri will have a difficult task of surviving the group stage knowing that they have been pitted against the reigning World champions Germany, Sweden and South Korea and Iceland fixture can be a valuable test for Osorio’s men.

Team News

Jonathan dos Santos, Jurgen Damm and Javier Aquino were all forced to withdraw from the training camp due to problems with injury.

Giovani dos Santos is struggling with a hamstring injury, whereas Oswaldo Alanis was a late addition to the roster.

Iceland

A small nation from the North is enjoying a glorious era in its football history. Having taken the European continent by storm with their courageous EURO 2016 appearance and wonderous supporters who enchanted entire planet with their Viking clap, Iceland are now set to take it up a notch to the brightest World Cup stage.

After a 2-0 victory over Kosovo during the World Cup qualifications, Iceland officially became the smallest nation to ever qualify for the coveted competition. Despite being the smallest nation competing for World Cup glory, Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side are by no means to be taken lightly. Iceland is a physically dominant side capable of upsetting the biggest sides and will most certainly look to catch Mexico off guard for a win that could be a major boost to their confidence ahead of the second March friendly against Peru. Iceland lost only one of their last seven matches and are coming off from a two-game ten-goal glut against Indonesia back in January. Mexico will provide a different kind of a test, however, and Hallgrimsson is expected to go against them in full force.

Team News

Everton ace Gylfi Sigurdsson picked up a nasty knee injury against Brighton and will have to visit a specialist.

Alfred Finnbogason is expected to take over from the Toffees star and lead the team forward, but Sigurdsson’s creativity in the final third will definitely be missed against tough Mexicans.

Key Factors to Consider

• Mexico won 8 of their last 10 home matches
• El Tri conceded only 3 goals in last 6 matches on home soil
• Mexico and Iceland met on three occasions overall
• Only one goal was scored in all three previous clashes between the two sides
• Iceland only lost two of their last 10 matches on the road

Conclusion

Meetings between Mexico and Iceland usually tend to be low-scoring affairs with only one goal scored between them in all three previous encounters. The forthcoming Friday match will be a highly important game for both teams who are gearing up for World Cup and want to have the best possible preparation ahead of the main event in Russia.

Verdict: Both teams to score – No

Best Odds: 19/29

Bookmaker: 888sport