STAR PREVIEW: France v Iceland (Euro 2016 Sunday)

[dropcap]B[/dropcap]efore ploughing in at short odds on France tonight it might be prudent to check out the last ten meetings between the two sides.

France have never been beaten, as you would expect, but there’s been some closer encounters than the odds would of suggested and that of course is not taking into account the helium balloon that the Iceland side are currently floating on.

Their approach of living in the moment and just enjoying each game is paying dividends. There’s no pressure on them and that’s quite the opposite for the host nation tonight at the Stade de France.

As rancid as England were on Monday, it would be churlish not to point out that Iceland played well – especially coming back from an early 1-0 deficit from which most minnows would have immediately collapsed.

Whilst Iceland concede plenty of goals (one clean sheet in their last 10 games) they are also more than capable of getting amongst the action.

It’s the year of the underdog according to Iceland joint-coach Heimir Hallgrimsson who said “I would like it to end like it ended with Leicester. They played to their strengths and we are trying to play to our strengths. There is the same team spirit in both teams. We are willing to work for each other.”

Iceland are likely to be unchanged for a fifth successive game whereas France will be without the suspended pair Adil Rami and N’Golo Kante.

France v Iceland
UEFA EURO 2016 Quarter-Final
20:00 ITV / ITV HD

HEAD TO HEAD
(Maximum 10 matches)
May 2012 INTERNATIONAL France 3 – 2 Iceland
Oct 1999 EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS France 3 – 2 Iceland
Sep 1998 EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS Iceland 1 – 1 France
Nov 1991 EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS France 3 – 1 Iceland
Sep 1990 EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS Iceland 1 – 2 France
Apr 1987 EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS France 2 – 0 Iceland
Sep 1986 EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS Iceland 0 – 0 France
Sep 1975 EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS France 3 – 0 Iceland
May 1975 EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS Iceland 0 – 0 France
Sep 1957 WORLD CUP Iceland 1 – 5 France

Both teams to score at 6/5 and France / France at 11/10 are two odds-against options with Star Sports that appeal in a one-sided affair – on paper at least.

RECOMMENDED BETS (scale of 1-100 points)

BACK FRANCE/FRANCE HT/FT 85 points at 11/10 with Star Sports

BACK BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE 85 points at 6/5 with Star Sports

Euro 2016 Profit/Loss: -209.50 points

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