Euro 2016 Schedule: Live Stream, TV Info, Odds for Sunday Quarter-Final Fixture
Iceland will hope their Cinderella run at UEFA Euro 2016 continues on Sunday, as they meet hosts France in the quarter-finals at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Paris.
The oddsmakers have installed Les Bleus as the heavy favourites, but Iceland have so far proven resilient, organised opponents who share a lot of characteristics with the Republic of Ireland―a team that had France on the ropes until a mad three-minute stretch that saw Antoine Griezmann score twice in the previous round.
Here's everything you need to know about Sunday's clash:
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Time: 8 p.m. BST / 3 p.m. ET
Venue: Stade de France, Saint-Denis (near Paris)
TV Info: ITV 1 (UK), ESPN 2 (U.S.)
Match odds (via OddsShark.com):
| 43-100 | 92-25 | 212-25 |
All scoring odds are courtesy of Oddschecker.com.
Both Teams to Score (5-4)
While the return on this bet isn't the greatest, it's a relatively safe option to play in an accumulator bet. Iceland have stood out with their tremendous organisation and solid defending, but it's worth mentioning they've so far conceded in every Euro 2016 match they've played.
Even Austria, who scored just the one goal in the tournament, broke through the Icelandic defence. France have struggled defensively, and both N'Golo Kante and Adil Rami will miss the contest through suspension.
Per France Football's Philippe Auclair, manager Didier Deschamps might opt to play a debutant in the heart of the defence:
Set-piece defending isn't France's strong suit, and Iceland's deadly long throws have so far troubled every team they've faced. On the other side of the pitch, Les Bleus have the aerial prowess to find success with crosses, and Griezmann should once again be a factor.
First Scorer: Olivier Giroud (10-3)
It's tempting to pick the in-form Griezmann as the first scorer, but after his two-goal showing against Ireland, his odds have dropped dramatically. Instead, Giroud might be an option for the more adventurous punters looking to cash in.
The Arsenal man entered the tournament in fantastic form but hasn't been at his best since, and against Ireland, he took a backseat to the Griezmann show, even though he provided a stunning assist for the second goal.
As reported by Goal's Dom Farrell, compatriot Bacary Sagna believes he still has a big role to play:
"Olivier is very important for the team,. We have to count on him. He hurts the [opposition] defence, he is a permanent danger in from of the goal. He is a key player for this team.
He has had a lot of critics during this competition but he can be decisive as he was during the match against Ireland.
"
Giroud's ability in the air will be a big weapon against an Iceland side expected to cede possession to France and defend with numbers. Les Bleus have a couple of able crossers, and against Iceland's deep defence, Griezmann is more likely to drop back a little and make himself available to midfielders, leaving Giroud as the lone France striker in the box.
The striker plays a key role in France's build-up play, but against Iceland, he should have more chances to go for glory himself.
France to Win by 1 Goal (12-5)
Euro 2016 hasn't been a particularly spectacular or high-scoring tournament, and if there's one thing most top teams appear to have in common, it's that they've gone very conservative with their tactics after taking the lead.
The lone exception to this is Germany, who never seem to take their foot off the gas, but everyone else, including France, have shut things down defensively and barely attacked after grabbing the lead.
Meanwhile, Iceland haven't lost by more than one goal in a competitive encounter since a 2-0 loss to Croatia in 2013. That bodes well for another close encounter on Sunday.
