France vs Iceland: EURO 2016 Quarter-final Preview & Prediction

Iceland turn their attention to a EURO 2016 Quarter-Final against the tournament hosts France inside the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on Sunday night, hoping to spring another surprise, having already toppled England in the Round of 16.

Playing in their maiden international competition, the smallest nation ever to qualify now meet Didier Deschamps’ side, who are yet to fully find their best form.

Back-to-back draws against Portugal and Hungary set Iceland on their way in Group F – before a last minute winner from Arnor Traustason against Austria at the same venue as Sunday’s game earned them a runners-up spot.

Joint-managers; Lars Lagerback and Heimir Hallgrimsson, oversaw a result which will go down in European Championship history, when they defeated the beleaguered Three Lions 2-1 at the Allianz Riviera on Monday evening.

Iceland stunned England in the Round of 16 on Monday night – Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Wayne Rooney’s fourth minute penalty was immediately cancelled out by Ragnar Sigurdsson’s equaliser, before Joe Hart’s misjudgement allowed Kolbeinn Sigthorsson’s 18th minute shot to trickle beyond his grasp and into the net, bringing an end to Roy Hodgson’s reign as England manager and continuing Iceland’s run to the last-eight.

Awaiting Iceland on Sunday are a France side who have struggled for consistency in their last four fixtures at this summer’s showpiece.

Les Bleus qualified through Group A, winning two out of their three fixtures against Romania and Albania, prior to concluding with a goalless stalemate with Switzerland.

After topping their group, France were then subsequently drawn against the Republic of Ireland for the first knockout round in Lyon.

However, it didn’t start well for them as they got off to the worst possible start, with Robbie Brady giving the Boys in Green a second minute lead from the penalty spot.

A four-minute brace from Antonie Griezmann at the beginning of the second-half rescued France, as they held on to triumph unconvincingly against Martin O’Neill’s ten men.

France’s indifferent form at these European Championships so far is quite a contrast to their Icelandic opponents, as both sides look to preserve unbeaten records.

The game at the Stade de France will be the 12th time that France and Iceland have played each other. The French side have never lost to the Nordic country, coming out on top on eight occasions, with the last meeting concluding in a 3-2 win for the hosts back in May 2012.

Tournament hosts France – Photo: Mark Leech / Offside.

Team News:

France will be without Leicester City’s Premier League title-winning midfielder N’Golo Kante and Sevilla centre-back Adil Rami, who will both be unavailable to boss Deschamps having picked up their second bookings of the tournament.

Meanwhile, Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny are one booking away from potentially missing a semi-final, should France get there.

Lagerback and Hallgrimsson are likely to name an unchanged Iceland squad for a fifth successive game, keeping faith in the side that got them this far, meaning that 37-year-old forward Eidur Gudjohnsen is set for a place amongst the substitutes.

Iceland have no fresh injury or suspension concerns to contend with, after captain Aron Gunnarsson returned to training on Friday.

FIFA World Ranking: France – 17th: Iceland – 34th
Best European Championship Finish: France – Winners (1984, 2000): Iceland – first-ever European Championship Finals
Previous Meeting: France 3-2 Iceland – May 2012 (International friendly)
Form: France – WWWWDW: Iceland – LWDDWW
Key Men: France – Dimitri Payet: Iceland – Gylfi Sigurdsson
Shoot Says: France 2-1 Iceland