Greece u19 - Iceland u19

Europe - Under 19 Championship, Group B, Round 3

Greece U19 Analysis: Another disastrous performance from our national team, conceding five goals for the second consecutive game, this time suffering a 5-0 defeat against Spain. Unlike the previous match, where there was a reaction and some response to the first-half "storm," this time the overall display was utterly disappointing. It is evident that these players have never played together before, especially in defense, where there were numerous gaps. Despite changes in the lineup, the outcome remained unchanged. Greece's resistance lasted a mere ten minutes, as the Spaniards opened the scoring in the 11th minute through Barbera, and it went downhill from there. Two more goals were conceded within the first 20 minutes (14' and 17'), with Spain adding a fourth goal just before halftime. The second half followed a similar pattern, with Greece only conceding one goal (57'). With the current state of play, it's unlikely that any improvement can salvage the situation. Theos will be absent, and Stavropoulos (M) is ruled out due to accumulated yellow cards.

Iceland U19 Analysis: After securing a draw against Norway (1-1) in the previous matchday, Iceland, the newcomers at this level, are still in the qualification race. They need a victory and hope for a Norway loss against Spain, with a scoreline that bridges the goal difference between the two teams. Currently, Iceland trails by one goal while Norway leads by one. In the earlier encounter, Iceland demonstrated some of the elements that brought them this far. Although there were few promising phases in the first half, the highlight belonged to Iceland, as they pressed high and forced the opposing goalkeeper into an impressive save with Thorstesson's powerful shot in the 39th minute. The pace of the game improved in the second half, with both teams actively seeking goals. Iceland found themselves trailing in the 65th minute after conceding a penalty. However, they pushed for an equalizer and succeeded in the 89th minute through Gudmonsson, with the play originating from their goalkeeper's distribution. Brynjolfsson (M) has completed his suspension and will be available for selection.

Considering the point standings, Iceland is undoubtedly aiming for a victory to keep their hopes of qualification alive. In fact, a win with a goal difference greater than one would significantly enhance their chances. Greece, on the other hand, will be playing for pride as they try to salvage some dignity after two consecutive defeats. In terms of competitiveness, the visitors appear to be in a stronger position and are more likely to secure a victory.