Match Preview - 19:45 Kick-Off at Loro Borici Stadium, Shkoder

Kosovo have struggled in their Group I endeavours to date, picking just 1 point up from their 4 games. Kosovo play their home games in Albania negating any influence a strong supportive home crowd could have on any of their World Cup Qualifying Group fixtures. In fact, in their only “home” game so far they suffered a 6-0 annihilation against Croatia.

Iceland won many admirers for the efforts at Euro 2016 and many neutrals will hope the Vikings will qualify and bring their “Thunder Clap” to the 2018 World Cup. After 4 games Iceland find themselves in 3rd spot behind group leaders Croatia and nearest rivals Ukraine, and Iceland have it all to do to make the qualification places.

Kosovo have conceded an average of 3 goals per game, and that statistic has a strong chance of being maintained on Friday night.

Kosovo’s FIFA World Cup Qualifying Group I Results so far:

Sept 5th 2016 - Finland 1:1 Kosovo

Oct 6th 2016 - Kosovo 0:6 Croatia

Oct 9th 2016 - Ukraine 3:0 Kosovo

Nov 12th 2016 - Turkey 2:0 Kosovo

Iceland’s FIFA World Cup Qualifying Group I Results so far:

Sept 5th 2016 - Ukraine 1:1 Iceland

Oct 6th 2016 - Iceland 3:2 Finland

Oct 9th 2016 - Iceland 2:0 Turkey

Nov 12th 2016 - Croatia 2:0 Iceland

Odds

Kosovo 13/2

Iceland 13/2

Draw 18/5

Predictions

This is a huge game for Iceland. With their rivals Croatia and Ukraine playing in Zagreb at the same time, Gylfi Sigurdsson and company will be going all out to secure a massive 3 points in the race for qualification. I expect Iceland to be right up for this game from the outset and they should record a comfortable win against Kosovo.

Our Tips

Kjartan Finnbogason scored in each of Iceland’s first 3 fixtures, and although he failed to register in Iceland’s defeat to Croatia, odds of 7/5 for him to score anytime at Ladbrokes looks like great value. Iceland to be winning at half time and full time at odds of 10/11 is also worth a go with Bet365.

Finnbogason to score anytime  - 7/5 - Ladbrokes

Iceland to be winning half time/full time - 10/11 - Bet365