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

On Sunday, Belgium Women and Iceland Women will begin their respective Women's Euro 2022 campaigns when they go head to head at the Academy Stadium in Manchester.

Belgium will feature at the European Championship for the second time in their history after making their debut at Euro 2017, while Iceland are making their fourth appearance at the tournament.

Match preview

Belgium won seven of their eight matches to breeze through qualifying, ensuring they will participate at consecutive European Championships.

After suffering a group stage exit five years ago, Belgium's objective will be to reach the knockout stages of a major tournament for the first time in their history.

Belgium will be fully aware that as the lowest-ranked team in a group that contains France, Italy and Iceland, they have a mountain to climb if they are to progress to the quarter-finals.

The Belgian Red Flames experienced mix results in their June friendlies in preparation for the tournament, with their four matches resulting in two wins and two defeats.

While they lost to England and Austria, they would have taken confidence from 4-1 and 6-1 victories over Northern Ireland and Luxembourg respectively.

Meanwhile, Iceland made their debut at the European Championships in 2009, and this summer they will be making their fourth consecutive appearance at the tournament.

In their three previous European championship campaigns, Iceland reached the knockout stages on one occasion, while they have never progressed further than the quarter-finals.

Despite qualifying for the knockout rounds in 2013, Iceland have only collected one victory in the 10 games that they have played across their three tournament appearances.

While their hosts prepared for the tournament with four warm-up matches, Iceland played only one friendly in June, which resulted in a 3-1 victory against Poland.

As a result of the win over Poland, Thorsteinn Halldorsson's side have won nine of their last 10 games, ensuring that they head into the tournament in a confident mood.

Team News

Amber Tysiak is expected to start alongside Laura De Neve in central defence for Belgium, while Sari Kees and Davina Philtjens are set to feature as full-backs.

Belgium's record appearance holder Janice Cayman is also set to be included in the starting lineup for Sunday's contest.

The Belgian Red Flames will be looking towards Hoffenheim striker Tine De Caigny to provide their main goal threat in the group opener.

As for Iceland, their centre-back pairing will be made up of Glodis Viggosdottir and Gudrun Arnardottir.

Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir has made more appearances for Iceland than any other player, and the 27-year-old is expected to start in midfield alongside Dagny Brynjarsdottir and Karolina Lea Vilhjalmsdottir.

Meanwhile, Berglind Bjorg Thorvaldsdottir is set to lead the line for Halldorsson's side.

Belgium Women possible starting lineup:

Evrard; Kees, Tysiak, De Neve, Philtjens; Cayman, Vanhaevermaet, Biesmans; Dhont, Wullaert, De Caigny

Iceland Women possible starting lineup:

Sigurdardottir; Atladottir, Viggosdottir, Arnardottir, Gisladottir; Jonsdottir, Brynjarsdottir, Vilhjalmsdottir; Jonsdottir, Albertdottir, Thorvaldsdottir

We say: Belgium Women 1-1 Iceland Women

Only two places separate the sides in the FIFA World Rankings, and with the teams so closely matched, we think that Sunday's contest will result in the spoils being shared.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.