Wales will look to maintain their unbeaten start to the season UEFA Nations League campaign as they travel to Reykjavik to surrender Iceland on Friday evening.

While the Dragons are second League B Group 4 With four points from two games, their Icelandic counterparts are just one point and one place behind in third place.

Game preview

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After drawing all four 2022-23 Nations League games, Iceland has since had a mixed start to the 2024-25 season, with a 2-0 opening win at home against Montenegro, followed by a 1-3 away defeat against Turkey .

Old HareideThe Barcelona team has been inconsistent for much of 2024, alternating between win and defeat in each of their last six international matches in all competitions, scoring eight goals and conceding ten.

Iceland, ranked 71st in the world by FIFA, is aiming for first place in League B and securing promotion back to League A, where it suffered 10 defeats in 10 games in two different seasons.

There is a home game against current group leaders Turkey next Monday, but first they must turn their attention to Friday’s clash with Wales, a nation they have beaten just once in their last six meetings – back then they won in the World Cup. Qualified 1-0 in September 1984.

Wales secured a 3-1 friendly win at home against Iceland the last time these two nations met in March 2014 and have started the 2024-25 Nations League season unbeaten.

The Dragons suffered a goalless draw against Turkey in their opening game – Craig Bellamyis the first game as a coach – before he beat Montenegro 2-1 away thanks to two quick shots Kieffer Moore And Harry Wilson in the first three minutes of the game.

Bellemy’s first victory ended a four-match winless run for Wales and was only the Dragons’ second away win in their last 11 games in all competitions.

Wales, ranked 29th in the world by FIFA, will rise to the top of Group B if they beat Iceland away for the first time since 1980 on Friday and Turkey drop points at home to Montenegro.

Icelandic Nations League form:

Iceland form (all competitions):

Wales Nations League form:

Wales form (all competitions):

Team news

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Iceland defender Sverrir Ingi Ingason has returned to the senior squad after missing the international break last month due to injury, and the Panathinaikos man will have to contend with it Hjortur Hermannsson And Daniel Leo Gretarsson initially as a central defender.

Birmingham City duo Alfons Sampsted And Willum Thor Willumsson are also in the running for the starting eleven, while they are 95-time international players Johann Berg Gudmundsson is expected to lead the team as captain from midfield.

After a long break from football, 35 years old Gylfi Sigurdsson He started both of Iceland’s first Nations League games and is expected to continue playing in advanced midfield behind both Orri Oskarsson or Andri Gudjohnsen in front.

As for Wales, 34 years old Joe Allen has returned to the international set-up after being persuaded by Bellamy to come out of retirement Rhys Norrington Davies was called up to the squad for the first time in over two years after being unable to play for a long time due to injury.

David Brooks, Nathan Broadhead And Wes Burns were also called up after missing the international break last month, but a midfield duo Aaron Ramsey And Ethan Ampadu are excluded due to injury.

Brennan JohnsonDescribed by Bellamy earlier this month as an “elite” footballer with “ridiculous talent”, he has scored six goals in as many games for Tottenham Hotspur and will be pushing to start with Moore and Wilson in attack.

Iceland possible starting lineup:
Valdimarsson; Sampsted, Hermansson, Ingason, Finnsson; Anderson, Gudmundsson, Thordarson, Thorsteinsson; Sigurdsson; Oksarsson

Wales possible starting line-up:
Station; Roberts, Mepham, Rodon, Davies; Wilson, Allen, Cooper, Koumas; Johnson; Moore

We say: Iceland – Wales 1:1

Wales will be confident they are good enough to emerge victorious on Friday and few would be surprised if they took maximum points here. However, Iceland have impressed on home soil – three wins and a draw in one of their last four games – and we think they could frustrate the Dragons in a close clash in Reykjavik.

For data analysis of the most likely outcomes, scores and more for this game, please click here.

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