Iceland and Albania will do battle in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday.
Both nations have 10 points and sit in a tie for third place. However, they are both just one point behind Norway for second place and five behind first place Switzerland. Both teams know that the winner could potentially be in a battle for first place if they win and Switzerland ties Norway on Tuesday. However, they also know that they could be in fourth or fifth place if Slovenia manages a win over Cyprus (a likely scenario). Slovenia currently trails both Iceland and Albania by just one point and could finish in second place by the end of the day if these two nations draw and Switzerland beats Norway.
Albania was in second place heading into Friday's qualifiers but lost in the 19th minute against Slovenia. The team has pulled three wins, one draw, and three losses in qualifying and has also scored and conceded seven goals throughout.
Meanwhile, Iceland has three wins, one loss, and one draw, but has provided more offense and less defense. The nation has scored 12 times and conceded 13; both numbers were likely inflated by their heroic performance against Switzerland on Friday in Bern. Iceland's Johann Berg Guomundsson scored three minutes into the contest, but Switzerland scored four straight and held a 4-1 lead. However, Kolbeinn Sigporsson scored a goal at the 56 minute mark to ignite a comeback that was completed by Guomundsson's hat trick.
Iceland defeated Albania in the two nation's previous match last September in Tirana.
Prediction: Iceland plays with the confidence it has gained from its Friday draw. Albania loses 2-1.
Start Time: 3:30 p.m. EST
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