Iceland v Wales predictions: A 4/1 play tops @footyaccums' fancies

Wales’ Nations League campaign continues on Friday night as Craig Bellamy’s side travel to Reykjavik to face Iceland.

They drew with Turkey in their Nations League opener before beating Montenegro – now all eyes are on Iceland v Wales.

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Iceland v Wales predictions

Draw
Correct score: Iceland 1-1 Wales

WHEN: Friday 11th of October, 7:45pm
WHERE: Laugardalsvollur, Reykjavik, Iceland

Wales’ UEFA Nations League campaign continues with a trip to Iceland. Craig Bellamy’s start to life as Wales manager has been pretty good. A respectable home draw with Türkiye was followed by a win in a wet and windy Montenegro to give Cymru four points from their opening two games.

Consequently, Wales will certainly not fear their trip to the ‘land of fire and ice’ although Iceland have only lost two home games since January 2022, both of which were narrow, late defeats to Slovakia and Portugal respectively.

Bellamy will be hopeful that Tottenham forward Brennan Johnson can carry his Spurs form into this game, with the Welshman having netted six in six for his club. Johnson’s last goal for his country came in the 4-1 win over Finland back in March, meaning he is now five without a goal internationally, but will come into this fixture full of confidence.

Harry Wilson impressed in the last round of internationals, creating the most chances in the draw with Türkiye and netting what proved to be the winner against Montenegro, so will be expected to be key for Bellamy’s side here.

Reverting to the back three that has served Wales so well over recent years paid off in their last game, so a similar line-up is expected, although absences in the midfield will see some changes need to be made.

There are some familiar faces in the Iceland squad who remain important for Age Hareide’s side. Former Burnley midfielder Johann Berg Gudmundsson will be expected to feature and registered an assist in each of his last two international games, whilst also netting twice in five for his new club Al-Orobah FC in Saudi Arabia this season.

Former Swansea City midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson is also in the squad, and he too registered an assist in Iceland’s win over Montenegro back in September. Plymouth Argyle’s Victor Palsson has struggled for game time since his summer arrival from Belgian side Eupen, but he netted in the defeat to Türkiye last month so he should keep his place whilst Hertha Berlin’s Jon Thorsteinsson hasn’t netted for his new club since joining this summer but was the hero at Wembley in June and has two in his last four for his country so is one to watch.

Iceland Team News

Former Cardiff City midfielder Aron Gunnarsson remains absent for Iceland, with manager Hareide insisting the former national team captain plays at a higher level if he is to be selected again. Gylfi Sigurdsson keeps his place, having been recalled last month following an eight-game absence.

Wales Team News

A surprise inclusion in the Wales squad is 34-year-old Joe Allen. The Swansea City midfielder had announced his retirement following the 2022 World Cup in Qatar but has agreed to return following conversations with new boss Bellamy. It doesn’t come as a huge surprise, considering Wales will be without fellow midfielders Ethan Ampadu and Aaron Ramsey for this international break.

David Brooks, Nathan Broadhead and Wes Burns have also earned call-ups having missed out in September whilst Dan James remains absent following an injury picked up for Leeds United in August.

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Form Guide

Iceland

The hosts come into this game in mixed form. Their home win over Montenegro in their first Nations League fixture was followed by a 3-1 defeat to Türkiye. That inconsistency has been a trend since March with defeats to the Netherlands and Ukraine sandwiching that shock 1-0 win over England.

Wales

Despite failing to qualify for Euro 2024, having lost to Poland on penalties at the last hurdle and as well as changing manager in the summer, Wales’ form isn’t too bad. In fact, they’ve only lost once in 90 minutes in their last 12 games. Six of those games have ended level though, with failure to beat the likes of Armenia and Gibraltar particularly notable.

Iceland v Wales betting tips

Despite Wales’ positive start to life under new manager Craig Bellamy, they are in for a tough trip when heading to Iceland for this fixture. The hosts are inconsistent but have been strong at home, which should make for a tight game.

As is often the case with international football, there is no recent history between these sides to judge them on with their last meeting coming back in 2014, but Bellamy will be well aware of Iceland’s shock victory at Wembley back in June which put a dent in England’s Euro 2024 preparations.

Both of these sides failed to qualify for the show-piece occasion in Germany in the summer, but Wales are a side that haven’t been easily beaten over the last year, so we expect a tight game that will ultimately end level. Our prediction: Iceland 1–1 Wales.

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