Venezuela vs Iceland Match Analysis and Prediction

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Venezuela and Iceland go head to head for the first time in an international friendly in Austria on Thursday, with both nations facing stretches without competitive action having failed to qualify for the upcoming World Cup.

Jose Pekerman’s side return to action on Thursday after over three months away, having most recently recorded a pair of friendly wins in June.

They firstly defeated Malta away from home, as Salomon Rondon scored the only goal of the game, before claiming another 1-0 victory against Saudi Arabi through Nahuel Ferraresi’s goal.

Those results came after the stretch of an unsuccessful World Cup Qualifying campaign, as they finished at the foot of the South American group with just 10 points from their 18 matches.

Venezuela’s continental qualifying came to an end in March with matches against Argentina and Colombia, and with their fate already sealed, they would fall to 3-0 and 1-0 defeats.

On the other hand, Iceland come into the friendly unbeaten in their last four matches across all competitions, including the start of their UEFA Nations League campaign, after also falling short in World Cup qualifying.

A pair of victories over Liechtenstein were their only victories in 10 matches, as they collected just nine points before going without a win in a stretch of international friendlies and kicking of their Nations League campaign at the beginning of June.

Iceland started with a trip to Israel and were held to a 2-2 draw, before picking up a second point at home to Albania through Jon Dagur Thorsteisson’s second-half equaliser in a 1-1 draw.

Following a friendly win over San Marino, Iceland would again face Israel most recently and play out a draw by the same scoreline, as Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson and Thorir Johann Helgason were on the scoresheet in another 2-2 draw.

Venezuela vs Iceland head to head

These two nations have not previously met on any occasion and this will be their first meeting in a friendly.

Venezuela latest home form

Venezuela have recently failed to keep a good run of form at home, having won just two of their eight most recent matches. They lost 1-0 to Colombia in their last home game in the World Cup qualifiers. In their last five matches, they have scored eight goals and conceded eight.

Venezuela 1-3 Brazil 08/10/21

Venezuela 2-1 Ecuador 10/10/21

Venezuela 1-2 Peru 17/11/21

Venezuela 4-1 Bolivia 29/01/22

Venezuela 0-1 Colombia 30/03/22

Venezuela latest away form

Venezuela have recently been on an upturn in form on the road, having won each of their two most recent matches. They managed to defeat Saudi Arabia 1-0 in their last away game in a friendly. In their last five matches, they have scored three goals and conceded eight.

Ecuador 1-0 Venezuela 12/11/21

Uruguay 4-1 Venezuela 02/02/22

Argentina 3-0 Venezuela 26/03/22

Malta 0-1 Venezuela 01/06/22

Saudi Arabia 0-1 Venezuela 09/06/22

Iceland latest home form

Iceland have recently been on a relatively good run of form at home, having lost just one of their six most recent matches. They drew 2-2 with Israel in their last home game in the Nations League. In their last five matches, they have scored nine goals and also conceded nine.

Iceland 4-0 Liechtenstein 11/10/21

Iceland 1-1 Uganda 12/01/22

Iceland 1-5 Korea Republic 15/01/22

Iceland 1-1 Albania 06/06/22

Iceland 2-2 Israel 13/06/22

Iceland latest away form

Iceland have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having won just one of their six most recent matches. They defeated San Marino 1-0 in their last away game in a friendly. In their last five matches, they have scored five goals and conceded 11.

North Macedonia 3-1 Iceland 14/11/21

Finland 1-1 Iceland 26/03/22

Spain 5-0 Iceland 29/03/22

Israel 2-2 Iceland 02/06/22

San Marino 0-1 Iceland 09/06/22

Venezuela news

Defenders Alexander Gonzalez and Roberto Rosales missed out on selection for this round of friendlies, alongside midfielder Yangel Herrera and goalkeeper Wuilker Farinez.

Everton forward Salomon Rondon is Venezuela’s all-time top scorer with 35 goals in 89 caps, and should once again lead the line with Atlanta United’s Josef Martinez.

Iceland news

Iceland’s winger Johann Berg Gudmundsson only recently making steps in his recovery from an injury, while midfielder Arnor Ingvi Traustason and striker Jon Dadi Bodvarsson missed out on selection.

Aron Gunnarson should again captain the side from midfield alongside Adana Demirspor man Birkir Bjarnason, who leads the current squad for international caps with 110.

Prediction and Odds

Venezuela may have slightly more star power in their ranks, and will fancy their chances of picking up a positive result on Thursday.

However, Iceland have proven themselves to be tough to beat in recent years with a tight-knit squad, and a draw could be on the cards in Austria as a result.

Odds: 1 2.22 X 2.05 2 2.29