Israel will take on Iceland in their opening fixture of the UEFA Nations League on Thursday evening as both nations look to make amends after failure to qualify for the World Cup. Kickoffs schedules for 21:34 EAT.
Israel had finished second to last in League B in the previous edition. They are looking for a higher finish this time around and will likely go after the three points against the struggling Iceland. They come into this game with two wins in the last seven matches and in their last 10 games; they have conceded two or more goals in eight. However, they have not just been on the receiving end as they have also done well in attacking. In their last 10 games, they’ve scored two or more goals in seven matches.
The home side gets into this fixture after they shared spoils 2-2 International Friendlies with Romania in their most recent action. In that match, Israel had 57% possessions, 10 shots with seven of them on target and goals scored by Mu’nas Dabbur 57’ and 85’. Romania got nine shots with three of them on target and goals by Alexandru Cicâldău 10’ and Dennis Man 23’.
Meanwhile, Iceland was part of the top-most league in the previous edition of the Nations League. However, they were relegated at the end of the campaign and now they will have to take part in the second division. Coming into this game, they are winless in the last six matches, and in the last three alone, they’ve conceded 11 goals. Their only win in the last 12 matches was against Liechtenstein and that is just one of the two clean sheets they have in that run.
Iceland and their travelling fans will hope for better results following 5-0 International Friendlies trashing at the hands of Spain. In that match, Iceland managed 15% possession and two shots with none of them on target. Spain got 20 shots with eight of them on target and five goals.
Israel vs Iceland head to head
Thursday’s fixture will mark the second head to head meeting between these two sides. Israel won in the first meeting while Iceland is yet to win.
- Israel 3-2 Iceland
Home
- Israel 2-2 Romania
- Germany 2-0 Israel
- Israel 3-2 Faroe Islands
- Austria 4-2 Israel
- Israel 2-1 Moldova
Away
- Spain 5-0 Iceland
- Finland 1-1 Iceland
- Iceland 1-5 Korea Republic
- Iceland 1-1 Uganda
- North Macedonia 3-1 Iceland
Israel team news
Nir Bitton and Eran Zahavi are the two most notable absentees from the squad due to injury.
Iceland team news
Iceland manager Arnar Viðarsson has no fitness or suspension concerns.
Prediction and odds
Israel has been inconsistent in the recent outings but they managed to get two victories in the last five while Iceland are on a six-fixture winless run, and they had remained so in 11 of their previous 12 overall fixtures.
- Israel Win
- Draw
- Goals over 2.5
