The Outsiders · Nation to Glory

Take Iceland to Glory

“thunderclap volunteers”

The press pack calls Iceland population of a mid-sized suburb, heart of a continent, and files them as thunderclap volunteers. The bookmakers put them in the outsiders at 250/1 – 500/1.

▶ Play as Iceland

The bookmakers

The Outsiders — 250/1 – 500/1

The federation's target

Get out of the group

Your spine, as your predecessor's notes describe it

In goal, Halldórsson, camera in one glove. At the back, a centre-back carved from the lava fields. Running midfield, a set-piece librarian from Reykjavík. Up front, a striker who might sub on for his own father.

One World Cup, forty-odd decisions, no second leg. Pick the shape, name the squad, make the calls from the touchline, and see how far Iceland can go. Free to play, one sitting, no sign-up.

▶ Play as Iceland

The Favourites · 6/1 – 12/1

ArgentinaBrazilFranceEnglandSpainGermanyPortugalNetherlands

The Contenders · 16/1 – 40/1

ItalyBelgiumCroatiaUruguayMoroccoColombiaUSAMexicoJapanSwitzerlandDenmarkSenegal

The Dark Horses · 66/1 – 150/1

NorwayAustriaUkraineTurkeySwedenPolandSerbiaSouth KoreaAustraliaIranEcuadorNigeriaEgyptAlgeriaScotlandHungaryCzechiaGreeceIvory CoastCanada

The Outsiders · 250/1 – 500/1

WalesPeruChileParaguayTunisiaCameroonGhanaMaliCosta RicaQatarSaudi ArabiaSlovakiaSloveniaRomaniaIrelandNorth MacedoniaBosnia & HerzegovinaGeorgiaFinlandIceland

The Improbables · 1000/1 and drifting

AlbaniaNorthern IrelandIraqUAEUzbekistanJordanBurkina FasoDR CongoSouth AfricaCape VerdePanamaJamaicaHondurasEl SalvadorVenezuelaBoliviaNew ZealandChinaOmanHaiti