Hungary and Iceland both pulled off fantastic results from their opening matches in Euro 2016 against all odds. The two now match wits with one another in what could be a crucial Group F match now that both teams firmly believe they have a shot to get into the Round of 16.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
Iceland +155
Hungary +205
Draw +210
Over/Under 2 (over -120)
ODDS ANALYSIS
The oddsmakers clearly have no clue what to do with this match. Both of these teams have points already to show for their work, something that no one thought would be the case, and you're not going to find a match which is closer from the standpoint of betting across all three possibilities. Iceland is the +155 moneyline favorite, but the fact that Hungary on the moneyline at +205 and the draw at +210 are so close together tells us that literally anything can happen here.
The total of 2 and -120 vig on the over only adds more intrigue, as one goal is very likely going to be the decisive factor one way or the other.
TOURNAMENT UPDATE
Iceland wasn't pretty by any stretch of the imagination against Portugal, but it did the job it had to do and earned its point for sure. The defense blocked 10 shots and overcame 11 corners allowed to get the job done, and it was a goal by Birkir Bjarnason in the 50th minute which turned the tide of a match which easily could've been lost. The 1-1 result was one of the best in the history of Icelandic soccer and will not be forgotten at home for a long time.
But the day on Tuesday really belonged to Hungary. The Magyars picked up a goal from Adam Szalai in the 62nd minute to break the ice on a game which was surprisingly close before that, and after Alexsandar Dragovic was sent off shortly thereafter, the Hungarians controlled the game thereafter. The margin was doubled late on to leave the outcome with no doubt, and Budapest must've been in tremendous celebrating with its team beating its arch rival from Austria.
LIVE BETTING
The big question we have in this match is whether Iceland is going to be willing to show anything more going forward than it showed against Portugal. This is obviously a match of a different caliber, but just sitting back and letting Hungary come forward is probably setting itself up for long stretches of time in this one without a goal.
The Hungarians weren't exactly perfect in defense against Austria; Gabor Kiraly bailed them out a few times when he had to make some strong plays to either prevent shots or keep shots out of the back of the net. However, if Iceland doesn't make any plays forward, it could be Hungary set to make some advances and play like the favored side.
QUICK PICK
This is a really tough match to try to figure out. Iceland is very likely going to park the bus at the back again and hope to free Bjarnason and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson a few times on counterattacks. It's a sound strategy against Portugal, but it might not pay dividends against an equally cautious Hungary team.
However, Hungary doesn't exactly have the horses to come forward and break down what is a de facto 10-man defense either.
This is a match which is screaming for a scoreless draw as we see it, and the fact of the matter is that that could end up sufficing for both sides. If nothing else, it keeps both in a position to still get into the next round of this tournament, especially if Austria and Portugal happen to draw later in the day.
Euro 2016 Odds: Iceland 0, Hungary 0
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here, so start betting with BookMaker today! The matchup between Iceland and Hungary will kick off on Saturday, June 18, 2016 at 12:00 p.m. ET. This fixture from the Stade Veldrome in Marseille can be seen live on ESPN.
