Iceland vs France Prediction, 01:45 October 14: Rooster crows loudly

TPO - Football commentary Iceland vs France, 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Europe, at 01:45 on October 14 - Information on forces, expected lineup, form, history of confrontation. The French team is aiming for its 4th consecutive victory in Group D in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers with an away match against Iceland early tomorrow morning.

Pre-match comments

After three wins, coach Didier Deschamps' team is firmly at the top of the table with 9 absolute points, demonstrating the strength and depth of a top championship candidate. Meanwhile, Iceland is ranked third, 1 point behind second-placed Ukraine in the race for a play-off spot.

The Icelandic team started off impressively with a 5-0 win over Azerbaijan, but quickly faltered after losing 2-1 to France (despite Les Bleus having only 10 men) last month and then losing 5-3 to Ukraine at home last weekend. That defeat was a setback, but Arnar Gunnlaugsson and his team still have hope of competing for the top 2 if they can get points in the upcoming matches.

However, the challenge of France is too great. History is not on Iceland's side as they have never won in 16 meetings since 1957 (D4, L12). Les Bleus have won all three of their most recent encounters, including a 2-1 victory in the first leg last month, where Kylian Mbappe and Bradley Barcola scored.

Early tomorrow morning, coach Deschamps will have to make do without the services of Mbappe and Barcola due to injury. However, with names like Ekitike, Nkunku, Rabiot..., the French team still possesses superior quality and is capable of dominating the game.

In the most recent match, the "Gaul Rooster" easily defeated Azerbaijan 3-0 with goals from Mbappe, Rabiot and Florian Thauvin, affirming their position as one of the most stable teams in the world for nearly a decade.

France have won the World Cup twice (1998, 2018) and finished second in 2022 after a classic final against Argentina. With a star-studded squad and extensive experience, Les Bleus are expected to continue to show the mettle of a “big team”, aiming for their fourth consecutive victory to consolidate their top position.

Force situation

Iceland will be without striker Andri Gudjohnsen due to suspension, a big loss for a player who has scored 10 goals in 36 appearances for the national team. Daniel Gudjohnsen is likely to be given the chance to start up front.

In addition, coach Arnar Gunnlaugsson is expected to keep most of the squad intact, with mainstays such as Victor Palsson and Albert Gudmundsson continuing to be present from the start.

On the other side of the front line, the French team also suffered significant losses when Kylian Mbappe and Ibrahima Konate were both absent due to injury. These two stars will return to Real Madrid and Liverpool respectively for treatment. Mbappe has an ankle problem, while Konate has a thigh injury.

Les Bleus will also be without Bradley Barcola, Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele. Aurelien Tchouameni is suspended again, so Adrien Rabiot is almost certain to keep his place in midfield, while Jean-Philippe Mateta could be handed his first start in the French attack.

Expected lineup

Iceland (4-3-3): Olafsson; Palsson, Ingason, Gretarsson, Ellertsson; Gudmundsson, Johannesson, Haraldsson; Magnusson, D. Gudjohnsen, Thorsteinsson

France (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Kounde, Saliba, Upamecano, T. Hernandez; K. Thuram, Rabiot; Coman, Olise, Ekitike; Mateta

Score prediction: Iceland 1–2 France

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