Including friendlies, Iceland is winless in its last five matches with two draws for an 0-2-3 record. Nigeria hasn’t fared any better of late with an 0-1-6 record in its last seven games. Both teams will try to break out of their slumps with a win this Friday in Group D.
Nigeria vs. Iceland odds 2018: Pick’em line set for crucial Group D World Cup contest
Three valuable points are on the line Friday as Iceland clashes with Nigeria, with the sportsbooks setting the tight betting line for the Group D clash.
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Iceland and Nigeria appear to be too close to call on the betting board as both teams are going off at +175 to win at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. A draw bet is almost just as likely paying +210 in this match.
Group D: Iceland vs. Nigeria
When: Friday, June 22, 11:00 a.m. ET
Where: Volgograd Arena, Volgograd, Russia
Betting Line / Total: Iceland +175 / 2 Goals
Last Saturday, Iceland pulled off at the time what appeared to be a shocking result in a 1-1 draw against Argentina. But after Argentina once again looked dreadful in a 3-0 loss to Croatia on Thursday, that result retroactively looks less surprising.
Still, it gives Iceland total control of its destiny in the group as a win Friday and a draw or better against Croatia would push the team through to the Round of 16.
Nigeria has just as much of a reason to be excited about the Argentina result. The Nigerians are still very much alive in the group despite earning zero points in their first game, and a win over Iceland would put the African nation in position to potentially flip this group on its head with a result against Argentina next week.
Friday’s total is set at 2 goals. Three or more goals have been scored in four of Iceland’s last five games.
This is what the World Cup group stage is all about. Argentina entered the World Cup as a legitimate contender to win it and suddenly potentially finds itself on the outside looking in.
One team’s struggles are another team’s opportunities, and these two sides now have the chance to capitalize on Friday. Neither has won a game outright in quite a while, but both should be leaving it all out on the pitch in this one.
A draw would give Argentina new life while a win for either team would give them an excellent chance to advance. This should be a fun one.
For more odds information, betting picks and a breakdown of this week’s top World Cup betting news check out the OddsShark FC podcast with Andrew Avery, Rob Trites, and Craig Cormier. Subscribe on iTunes or listen to it at OddsSharkFC.libsyn.com.
