With plenty of surprises and a disappointing superstar, Group F has been one of the most exciting of the tournament.
Here is the preview of the final matches.
Who’s playing?
Top-of-the-group Hungary are taking on a winless Portugal, while surprise-packet Iceland are set to do battle against Austria.
How’s the table look?
In what’s probably one of the most unexpected tables, Hungary top the group on four points out of a possible six while Iceland and Portugal are second and third respectively on two points each. This leaves Austria outright last on one point.
Who can still qualify?
All nations can still mathematically qualify, with nobody having guaranteed a place in the knockout stages.
Who’s favourite to go through?
Based on form alone, Hungary would be the team favourites to go through, but any side with Ronaldo in it will always have things swing in their favour.
How can others qualify?
In what is definitely the most open group in the tournament all four teams can still qualify in the top two, while three of the four can still finish in top spot.
If Hungary draw with Portugal, they will be guaranteed a top-two finish, and a win would see them finish top.
If Ronaldo’s Portugal were to beat Hungary, they would finish on five points, automatically qualifying them and potentially seeing them finish first, if Austria beat Iceland.
A draw makes things more complicated, leaving Portugal on three points and Hungary on five, meaning that they would need Iceland and Austria to draw and hope they finish second on goal difference or go through as a highest placing third team.
The situation is identical for Iceland, a win sees them guaranteed a top-two finish, possibly top place if Hungary draw with Portugal but a draw with Austria leaves them needing to have superior goal difference or being a highest placed third team. Austria’s equation is far easier, anything less than a win won’t suffice.
Currently on one point, a win over Iceland would see them leapfrog them, finishing on four points. If Hungary were to win or draw, Austria would finish second but if Portugal were to win Austria would likely finish third, still expected to qualify as a highest placed 3rd.
Match analysis
Hungary vs Portugal
A match that pre-tournament might have been considered insignificant has suddenly all the meaning in the world with CR7 and his gang desperate to avoid further embarrassment and proceed through the group stages.
Hungary came in with little expectation but cause an upset against dark horse favourites Austria in the first round. They then were saved by an 88’ Iceland own goal in their second match, setting up a juicy match with Portugal. Expected to breeze through the group, Portugal experienced an unexpected first game hiccup when Bjarnason’s strike cancelled out Nani’s opener with the match finishing 1-1.
Hoping to bounce back to form they faced fellow top-tenner Austria where none of Portugal’s 23 shots found the back of the net.
Unusually quiet, Ronaldo has taken 20 shots between the first two matches for a total of 0 goals, a stat he’ll be hoping to turn around against Hungary. With the world watching, Ronaldo will rise to the occasion and help Portugal seal a much needed 3-0 win.
Iceland vs Austria
The surprise package of the tournament vs the flop of the tournament? Not in Austria’s worst nightmares would they have thought they could potentially not win a match in this group let alone finish last.
30 seconds into their first game Bayern Munich star and Austrian captain David Alaba’s shot rocketed against the woodwork, showing signs of what we though were things to come, but come they never did.
Having not scored in their first two matches it seems ludicrous to think they can still qualify, but that they can. But not if a plucky Iceland team have anything to do about it. Arguably playing like the best team in the group, led by Swansea’s Gylfi Sigurdsson, Iceland are unlucky to not be leading on four points.
United and determined are the only way to describe how Iceland are playing expect this to continue and for them to eliminate Austria with a 1-1 draw.
Final verdict
Portugal will somewhat undeserving go through atop of Group F after a win over Hungary with five out of a possible nine points. Hungary’s haul of four points will see them as surprise qualifiers for the knockout stages.
Iceland will be unlucky to finish third and will hope their three points and even goal difference will see them deserving into the knockout stages, leaving a shocked Austrian team heading home early.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Emi Martinez was saved by a new rule that resets yellow cards at the end of extra time, meaning his second yellow for taunting…
This season the top five leagues rankings of European football have been flipped on its head, as new competition heavyweights emerge. Just look at…
In all likelihood, just sixth spot remains up for grabs as we approach the final three rounds of A-League action in season 2023/24 and…
Not only did Erling Haaland's header hit the bar, but Bernardo Silva missed the rebound tap-in that came off his knee. Manchester City went…
After Manchester City saved Luka Modric's shot, the person in the stands didn't return the ball, holding up the penalty shootout for almost a…
Bayern Munich scored the only goal to defeat Arsenal 1-nil and progress to the semifinals. Former player Martin Keown says it's disappointing his former…
