Ace Football previews the UEFA Nations League match between England and Iceland, and offers betting tips, odds, line-ups, and team news.
England and Iceland will lock horns on Wednesday night for their final Nations League match of the 2020/21 campaign.
Both sides have failed to qualify for the finals and have little left to play for in the competition. England, for one, are third in Group A2 on a mere seven points and five behind leaders Belgium, while Iceland are relegated without a point to their name so far.
Although the Nordic nation would love to snatch a memorable win before bowing out of League A at Wembley. And given the hosts’ injury problems, they’ll look to capitalize with a fearless display in the English capital.
The corresponding fixture between these two teams in the Nations League ended in a slender 1-0 win for England in Reykjavik, with Raheem Sterling’s injury-time penalty settling the match.
England Form & Stats
A 2-0 defeat to Belgium over the weekend confirmed England’s Nations League fate and left Gareth Southgate in the spotlight.
The Three Lions boss has faced criticism of late for his team selections and tactics. An abysmal group-stage campaign hasn’t helped matters, with just three goals scored in five matches. It’s already prompted doubts over his future in the dugout.
That trio of goals, in fact, means England are level with Iceland, Sweden and Bosnia & Herzegovina for the lowest goal account in League A. Considering the plethora of attacking talent in Southgate’s ranks, it’s a disappointment.
The lack of goal threat was particularly evident in the loss to Belgium. They managed just two shots on target despite spending much of the second half inside their opponent’s own half; leaving Southgate with much to ponder about before next summer’s European Championships.
Key Team Stats
- Won 10 of their last 11 home games in all competitions (L1).
- Won to nil in seven of their last 10 home wins in all competitions.
- Dominic Calvert-Lewin has scored 13 goals in 15 appearances for club and country.
Iceland Form & Stats
Erik Hamren’s side, on the other hand, head to Wembley on the back of four consecutive defeats in all competitions. And while they only narrowly lost to England last time out, hopes of ending their losing streak appear remote.
Although to be fair, Iceland weren’t expected to do much better in the Nations League. The Nordic nation may have lost all five games, but three of them were by a one-goal deficit. They’ve also scored as many goals as England – three.
Had it not been for a late Christian Eriksen penalty last weekend either, Iceland would’ve grabbed their first-ever Nations League point. In the end, though, they had to settle for a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat in Copenhagen.
Although the team’s poor run of results, on top of their recent failure to qualify for next summer’s European championship, has cost Hamren his job. The manager’s last game will be against England on Wednesday.
But Hamren stated in his pre-match conference he intends to bow out with pride and demanded a response from his players one last time.
Key Team Stats
- Lost all of their nine Nations League games.
- Lost six of their last seven games in all competitions (W1).
- Over 2.5 goals in their last five away games in all competitions.
Team News
England: Trent Alexander-Arnold, James Ward-Prowse, Joe Gomez, Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling, Jordan Henderson, Reece James, & Conor Coady (out).
Iceland: Willum Willumsson & Hordur Magnusson (out).
Predicted Line-up
(Note: The image will change to the official XI once they’re both announced)
Top Goalscorers in Recent Games
Head-To-Head Analysis
England and Iceland have faced each other four times previously since June 1982. The hosts have won two times, drawn once, and lost on the other occasions.
Below are the four meetings and some head-to-head stats on the team’s recent form in the Nations League.
| Date | Fixture | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02-06-1982 | Iceland v England | 1-1 | Friendly |
| 05-06-2004 | England v Iceland | 6-1 | Summer Tournament |
| 27-07-2016 | England v Iceland | 1-2 | Euro 2016 |
| 05-09-2020 | Iceland v England | 0-1 | Nations League |
Match Facts
Betting Tips
More Odds
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