Iceland vs Denmark
Denmark take the trip to Iceland on Sunday in the UEFA Nations League; and the challenge for both teams is to climb away from the foot of their group.
The Icemen are rock bottom of Group A2, having lost both their opening games, while the Danes are a place above on a single point. On paper it should be an away win, but the Icemen are famed for their ability to fight off more illustrious visitors to their island, though they will need to draw on all their reserves to see off a strong Denmark side. At 16th in the FIFA Rankings the Danes are 25 places above their hosts.
Erik Hamren’s Iceland should have earned a point against England in their opening game but they missed a late penalty, and then they were mightily thumped 5-1 by group leaders Belgium. Denmark too lost to Belgium, 2-0, and then picked up their only point in a dull 0-0 draw with England.
Both teams will go for the win. Three points would quite possibly take Denmark level with England while a win for Iceland would lift them off the bottom.
There’s plenty of action to come this weekend with UEFA Nations League 2020 updates landing here by the hour. It’s going to be a great couple of days and Iceland against Denmark will certainly play its part.
Talking Points
Iceland targeting Euro 2021
The hosts come into this game in good spirits after midfield playmaker Gylfi Sigurdsson was on target twice to give Iceland a Euro 2021 play-off victory over Romania, running out 2-1 winners. They now have a November date with Hungary after the Magyars came through with a 3-1 victory over Bulgaria. Their opponents are ranked 11 places lower than Iceland, not a big margin and it promises to be a hard fought game.
Everton midfielder Sigurdsson has been Iceland’s playmaker during the nation’s finest period as a football team, reaching the Euro 2016 and World Cup 2018 finals. And there is happy news for the Icemen in the return of wide man Johann Berg Gudmundsson, who missed much of last season through injury. The Burnley man has a good turn of pace, quick feet and a fine delivery which could benefit striker Alfred Finnbogasson if Iceland can get at the Danes.
Eriksen can take control
But that won’t be easy. Denmark warmed up for this game with a 4-0 win over Scandinavian cousins the Faroe Islands, and key man Christian Eriksen was on target with a first half penalty. Eriksen is part of Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan revolution as the former Chelsea boss tries to wrestle the Scudetto from the grip of Juventus; though the attacking midfielder has work to do to ensure a starting place with the likes of Ivan Perisic and Arturo Vidal to dislodge.
But with 32 goals from 98 appearances the ex-Spurs star has been Denmark’s biggest player over the past five years and, at 28 years of age, he’s moving into his prime. Eriksen is a match-winner on his day, and he has a talented all-round player in Pierre-Emile Hojberg alongside him in the Danish midfield. Tough in the tackle and with a fine range of passing Hojberg has settled well into life at his new club Tottenham Hotspur, starring in Spurs’ recent 6-1 humiliation of Manchester United.
Barcelona’s Martin Braithwaite and Red Bull Leipzig’s Yussuf Poulsen are an experienced front two with over 40 caps each, but they are both on seven goals, not a prolific return, and head coach Kasper Hjulmand will be looking for more.
History
This is a strong Denmark side and Iceland have a tough task in hand to win their first game in this fixture in 20 attempts, having lost 17 and drawn just three. Most recently they lost 2-1 in a friendly back in 2016.
But despite their lack of success this is a meaningful game for Iceland as they met Denmark in their first officially recognised FIFA game as an independent nation in 1946.
Predictably Denmark won 3-0!
Betting Tip
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Iceland vs Denmark | First Half 1X2 Draw @ 2.09 |
| October 12, 02:45 (GMT+8) |
So folks; the SBOTOP Nations League team have set the Iceland vs Denmark betting odds well in favour of the Danes, odds on at 1.73, with Iceland at 4.17 and the draw available at 3.50.
Sadly, the pandemic means that the Reykjavic stadium will not be rocking to the sound of the famous Viking Thunderclap, and so it will be a more comfortable night for the Danes than it might have been. Eriksen and co should have too much quality for their hosts and may well come out on top in the end.
But, fired up by their victory over Romania, I expect the Icemen to put up a spirited resistance which could last, at least, until half time.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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