SM
Real Madrid vs AC Milan: 5 hrs 23 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
IN
Nations League | League A
Oct 14, 2020 at 7.45pm UK
Laugardalsvöllur
BN

Iceland
1 - 2
Belgium

FT(HT: 1-2)
Lukaku (9', 38' pen.)
Witsel (85')

Preview: Iceland vs. Belgium - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Iceland vs. Belgium - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Wednesday's UEFA Nations League fixture between Iceland and Belgium, including team news and predicted lineups.
Sports Mole

Belgium square off against Iceland on Wednesday evening looking to bounce back from their UEFA Nations League setback versus England at the weekend.

Meanwhile, the home side realistically need to avoid defeat against the world's best team if they are to remain in with a chance of avoiding relegation to Section B.


Match preview

In the space of less than a week, Belgium have gone from being on a 12-match winning streak spanning almost two years to going back-to-back fixtures without recording a victory.

Although the failure to defeat either Ivory Coast or England will not necessarily concern Roberto Martinez, he will want to end their blip as soon as possible.

Martinez may allude to the fact that a weakened side only failed to beat Ivory Coast due to a late penalty and the defeat versus the Three Lions came courtesy of another spot kick and a heavily-deflected shot.

Nevertheless, failing to score from open play is a rarity for Belgium, and Martinez will call for that to be put right in a game which they will want to win by a wide margin.

Now facing a one-point deficit to England, the Red Devils will look to further boost their goal difference in the event that it becomes decisive next month.

While Iceland can mathematically still finish top of this group, the Scandinavian side are realistically out of the picture with their focus solely on remaining in the top tier.

Their heavy defeat to Denmark at the weekend has left Iceland sitting four points adrift of third, meaning that Erik Hamren's side require at least one win and one draw from their remaining fixtures.

With their Euro 2020 playoff against Hungary next month getting their full attention, Hamren and his squad may be happy to write off this campaign over the coming weeks.

That said, there are still places up for grabs for that showdown, something which should provide Strakarnir okkar with an extra edge against the best team in the world.

Iceland Nations League form: LLL
Iceland form (all competitions): WWLLWL

Belgium Nations League form: WWL
Belgium form (all competitions): WWWWDL


Team News

With Kevin De Bruyne having withdrawn from the squad, the playmaker could be replaced by Dries Mertens.

Timothy Castagne and Dedryck Boyata have started the previous two matches, realistically leaving them in line to be rested for this contest.

Youngsters Yari Verschaeren and Jeremy Doku are pushing for starting roles in the final third after their second-half outings at the weekend.

Iceland star Gylfi Sigurdsson could drop down to the substitutes' bench after beginning the last two fixtures.

Veteran Ragnar Sigurdsson is also expected to be handed a rest by Hamren.

Iceland possible starting lineup:
Halldorsson; Paisson, Arnason, Ingason, Magnusson; Anderson, Bjarnason, Sigurjonsson, Gudmundsson; Finnbogason, Bodvarsson

Belgium possible starting lineup:
Mignolet; Alderweireld, Denayer, Dendoncker; Meunier, Witsel, Tielemans, Carrasco; Trossard, Mertens; Lukaku


We say: Iceland 0-4 Belgium

Even if Martinez opts to make a number of alterations for this contest, we can only see one victor. Belgium will want to further boost their goal difference, and the Red Devils will likely show a ruthless streak on Wednesday.


Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data



body check tags ::

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


amp_article__418064 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2024-06-05 12:46:57:
html db last update - 2024-06-05 12:46:57 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Kevin De Bruyne: 'England can win Euro 2020 and 2022 World Cup'
'Gyokeres is the hottest striker in Europe': Man City warned ahead of Sporting clash
A hint or a plea? Salah posts mysterious Liverpool contract message
Killer Kolo: PSG forward scores twice as 10-man France beat Belgium
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Chelsea 'make decision' on future of defender Badiashile

1

C'

'It crossed my mind': Amorim makes bombshell Man City claim ahead of Man Utd move

2

'C

Preview: Jasmine Paolini vs. Qinwen Zheng - prediction, head-to-head, tournament so far

NEW

3

PJ

Preview: RFS vs. Anderlecht - prediction, team news, lineups

4

PR

Preview: Boston Celtics vs. Golden State Warriors - prediction, team news, form guide

5

PB

Preview: Union SG vs. Roma - prediction, team news, lineups

6

PU

"I was focused on a big thing with Leverkusen": Alonso responds to Liverpool links

7

&W

Preview: APOEL vs. Fiorentina - prediction, team news, lineups

8

PA

Three left-backs, five Londoners: Sports Mole's Premier League Team of the Week

9

TL

Tuesday's Championship predictions including Swansea City vs. Watford

10

TC


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .