San Marino vs Iceland
Þórir Jóhann Helgason (R) and Armenia’s Tigran Barseghyan vie for the ball during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualification Group J football match between Iceland and Armenia in Reykjavik, on October 8, 2021. (Photo by Haraldur GUDJONSSON / AFP) (Photo by HARALDUR GUDJONSSON/AFP via Getty Images)
After making a positive start to their UEFA Nations League campaign, will Iceland claim a moral boosting victory?
So far this month, Arnar Viðarsson’s side have drawn both League B matches, 2-2 in Israel before Monday’s 1-1 stalemate against Albania.
Þórir Jóhann Helgason and Arnór Sigurðsson on target in Haifa, before Jón Dagur Þorsteinsson fired home an equaliser at Laugardalsvöllur.
This though does mean Iceland are still yet to win a Nations League games, losing all ten matches in League A in the previous two editions.
They have two more chances this year to break that duck, hosing Israel on Monday before a visit to Tirana in September.
Here, Iceland should claim an emphatic victory; it would be their first since October.
San Marino are ranked 211th and rock bottom of the FIFA World Rankings as they’ve still never won a competitive game.
La Serenissima have lost both League D matches so far this week, both 2-0, against Estonia and then Malta.
Two years ago, Fabrizio Costantini’s side mustered a pair of goalless draws but have since lost all 16 internationals, conceding 65 goals.
This will be a first-ever meeting between these two nations, and Iceland should cruise to victory at Stadio Olimpico di Serravalle.
Saudi Arabia vs Venezuela
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 08: Salam Alfaraj of Saudi Arabia reacts after Salem Aldawsari of Saudi Arabia scores during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between the Australian Socceroos and Saudi Arabia at the Adelaide Oval on June 8, 2017 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)
World Cup preparations continue for Saudi Arabia, so will they claim a confidence-boosting victory?
The Green Falcons impressively topped their qualification group, notably beating both Australia and Japan in Jeddah.
So, later this year, Saudi Arabia will appear at their sixth World Cup Finals, all of which have come since USA ’94.
This month, Hervé Renard’s team have so far taken on Colombia in a friendly, a game they lost 1-0 last Sunday.
Against weaker South American opposition, will Saudi Arabia claim a victory this time?
Venezuela meanwhile are the only CONMEBOL nation who’ve never qualified for a World Cup.
They finished rock bottom of the group for the second cycle in succession, accumulating just ten points from 18 matches.
La Vinotinto did beat European minnows Malta in a friendly last Wednesday; Salomón Rondón the night’s only scorer in Ta’ Qali.
Over in Murica, Saudi Arabia should be too strong at Estadio Nueva Condomina.
New Zealand vs Oman
DOHA, QATAR – MARCH 18: Winston Reid (2) of New Zealand reacts during the OFC 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers match between Papua New Guinea and New Zealand at Qatar SC Stadium on March 18, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Simon Holmes/Getty Images)
The second of two friendlies for New Zealand as preparations for their massive game ramp up further.
On Sunday, the All Whites played their first fixture of this month’s international window, narrowly losing 1-0 to Peru in Barcelona.
Now, Danny Hay’s side are in action again, but all eyes realistically are on next Tuesday’s inter-confederation play-off against Costa Rica.
New Zealand’s last World Cup appearance came at South Africa 2010, when they beat Bahrain 1-0 on a famous night in Wellington.
Since, they’ve suffered double heartbreak in the inter-continental play-offs, beaten by Mexico and Peru in 2013 and 2017 respectively.
This time round, with OFC only awarded 0.5 places, the play-offs await them again, despite winning all five Oceanic qualifiers, scoring 18 goals.
Here, they’ll face Oman in a friendly, a side who missed out on an Asian play-off place by just a solitary point back in March.
The Reds though have qualified for next summer’s Asia Cup, at which they’ll be looking to better 2019’s run to the round of 16.
Here, at the Education City Stadium, how will New Zealand look ahead of their do or die game against Costa Rica on 14 June?
