Iceland vs England
UEFA Nations League
Date: Saturday, 5 September 2020
Kick-off at 17:00 UK/ 18:00 CET
Venue: Laugardalsvöllur.
Match preview
Iceland struggled to make an impression in the 2018-19 UEFA League of Nations, losing all four of their matches against Switzerland and Belgium to the bottom end of the section.
Erik Hamrén side will be keen to show improvement in the current edition, but it would be fair to say that the national team is mainly focused on booking their place at next summer's European Championships.
Iceland will take on Romania in the semi-final of the qualifying playoffs on October 8 ahead of a potential clash against either Bulgaria or Hungary in the final in November.
Our boys famous qualify for Euro 2016 reaching the first major tournament and beat England in the round of 16, recording a 2-1 victory to advance to the quarterfinals, where they lost to hosts France.
Iceland was also present at the 2018 World Cup - out in the group stage - and will be desperate to make sure they qualify for next summer's European Championships, which will begin in June 2021.
ngland, meanwhile, finished third in the 2018-19 UEFA League of Nations, winning a group that contains Spain and Croatia before losing to the Netherlands in the semi-finals of the competition.
The Three Lions beat Switzerland on penalties third claim, though, and the will fancy their chances of making a strong impression of another, despite the fact that Belgium is also present in this section.
Gareth Southgate side rounded off their qualification for Euro 2020 with a 4-0 win over Kosovo back in November, making sure that they will complete six points atop Group A.
In terms of what is to come, Britain will take on Denmark in the second clash UEFA League of Nations they were on September 8 before facing Wales in a friendly match on October 8 ahead of their next two games in this tournament at home to Belgium and Denmark on October 11, and 14 of October.
Of course there are foreign appearance for the Three Lions squad due to injuries and withdrawals are enforced, but a number of young players will be looking to make their mark in the next few days.
Iceland vs England Team News
Erik Hamrén will have to make do without three key players on Aron Gunnarsson, Gylfi Sigurdsson, and Johann Berg Gudmundsson. Gunnarsson Qatari club Al Arabi deterred him from taking a national duty while the other two made himself available for selection. fitness problems will also see Alfred Finnbogason and Ragnar Sigurdsson miss the match.
Southgate also has a much weaker squad at this disposal. Jordan Henderson, Marcus Rashford, and Harry Winks all out due to fitness problems. Harry Maguire also eliminated after he was involved in the incident battle.
Iceland squad
Goalkeeper: Hannes Thor Halldorsson, Ogmundur Kristinsson, Runar Alex Runarsson, Patrik Gunnarsson
Defenders: Kari Arnason, Ari Freyr Skulason, Sverrir Ingi Ingason, Hörður Björgvin Magnússon, Jon Gudni Fjoluson, Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson, Hjortur Hermannsson, Alfons Sampsted
Midfielder: Birkir Bjarnason, Emil Hallfredsson, Arnor Ingvi Traustason, Victor Palsson, Arnor Sirgurdsson, Samuel Fridjonson, Mikael Anderson, Jon Thorsteinsson Dagur Andri Baldursson
Forwards: Kolbeinn Sigthorsson, Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, Albert Gudmundsson, Holmbert Fridjonsson
England squad
Goalkeeper: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Dean Henderson
Defenders: Eric Dier Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Michael Keane, Trent Alexander Arnold, Joe Gomez, Tyrone Mings, Conor Coady
Midfielder: Declan Rice, Mason Mount, James Ward-Prowse, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Calvin Phillips
Forwards: Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane, Sancho Jadon, Tammy Abraham, Danny Ings, Mason Greenwood
Iceland vs England: Predictions
The Three Lions could be considered as one of the absolute best teams in the world, and they have been so for more than over the last few decades. Meanwhile, their counterparts one of the national team who even struggled to have a full-time professionals in their squad.
Happen, man Southgate has been made to the four previous World Cup finals, while their opposite numbers could not even get out of the group stage, and even did not record a single victory.
Also, the recently concluded Euro Qualifying viewed Three Lions topping their group, while men Hamren can not even secure a ticket to the continental extravaganza.
Southgate also noted that men have won seven of eight match-up the number of them in the competition, and has scored 37 goals unimaginable from the equipment. In return, they had conceded a total of just six goals.
Finally, they are even more motivated to perform well this weekend, to avenge their defeat in the 2016 Euro.
Taking all these observations into account, expect a winning performance from England.
Iceland vs England: Betting Tips
Half Time / Full Time: English / English @ 1.83 (5/6)
More than 1.5 Team Goals by England @ 1.44 (4/9).
