Prediction: France vs Iceland

Verdict: Total home goals over 2.5

Best odds: 13/25

Bookmaker: ZetBet

France will be aiming to sidestep any potential upset in their World Cup Group D qualifier when they host Iceland at Parc des Princes on Tuesday.

Both nations began their campaigns positively, each collecting three points from their opening fixtures. Les Bleus earned a solid 2-0 victory over Ukraine on Friday, while Iceland enjoyed a far more emphatic start, cruising to a 5-0 triumph over Azerbaijan on the same evening.

France

France were arguably fortunate to preserve a clean sheet against Ukraine, with their opponents fashioning four major chances, striking the frame of the goal, and missing clear opportunities inside the area.

That 2-0 win did little to silence long-standing criticism of Didier Deschamps, whose detractors maintain that his pragmatic style fails to fully exploit the wealth of talent at his disposal. Since taking charge in 2012, Deschamps has delivered only one major trophy, despite reaching the World Cup final in 2022, suffering a Euro 2024 semi-final exit to champions Spain, and finishing third in the 2024-25 Nations League.

Even so, Les Bleus have shown consistency in front of goal, netting at least twice in eight of their last 10 outings, while also recording three clean sheets in their last four. Their past two results were both 2-0 victories, though they have also dropped points in three of their previous five fixtures. On home soil, France remain a tough proposition, boasting three wins, one draw, and a single defeat from their last five.

Team News

Deschamps will need to alter his side for Tuesday’s contest, with winger Desire Doue sidelined through injury. That could open the door for Hugo Ekitike to feature, while Kylian Mbappe, Bradley Barcola, and Michael Olise are expected to complete the frontline.

In midfield, Manu Kone and Aurelien Tchouameni may pair up just ahead of central defenders Ibrahima Konate and Dayot Upamecano.

Iceland

Iceland only held a slender 1-0 advantage at the break against Azerbaijan – their opener arriving deep into first-half stoppage time – but deserve praise for their disciplined defensive showing after the restart, restricting their opponents to no attempts on goal.

Historically, Strakarnir okkar have struggled badly in this fixture, failing to beat France in 15 attempts and collecting just one draw from their five meetings since 2012. Newly-appointed head coach Arnar Gunnlaugsson, who took charge in January 2025, has overseen five games so far, with his side conceding seven goals in that spell.

Still, Iceland travel to Paris with confidence from two wins in their last three matches, a run in which they struck eight times. That said, their away record leaves room for concern, with three defeats from their last four fixtures on the road.

Team News

Gunnlaugsson is expected to keep faith with the XI that swept aside Azerbaijan 5-0, which means Victor Palsson, Sverrir Ingi Ingason and Daniel Gretarsson should form a three-man backline once more.

In midfield, Stefan Teitur Thordarson and Isak Bergmann Johannesson will likely provide the link to striker Andri Gudjohnsen, who leads the line up front.

Conclusion

France rightly enter as favourites, with a squad packed full of elite talent and a dominant historical record over Iceland firmly in their favour.

The visitors may threaten at times – particularly after their morale-boosting thrashing of Azerbaijan – and could even find the net, but overcoming Les Bleus’ strength in depth and quality across the pitch looks an unlikely prospect.

Verdict: Total home goals over 2.5

Best odds: 13/25

Bookmaker: ZetBet