UEFA Nations League

[monks data]

Nations League | League A

Nov 15, 2020 at 7.45pm UK

Telia Parken

Denmark
2 - 1
Iceland

Eriksen (12' pen., 90+2' pen.)
Wass (67')

FT(HT: 1-0)

Orn Kjartansson (85')
Freyr Skulason (11'), Mar Saevarsson (89'), Magnusson (90+1')

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

By Matt Law, Football Editor

Published: November 13 2020 | 11:24

Last updated: June 5 2024 | 13:46

Sports Mole previews Sunday's Nations League clash between Denmark and Iceland, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Denmark will be looking to make it five victories in a row when they continue their 2020-21 UEFA Nations League campaign at home to Iceland on Sunday night.

The Red and Whites are currently second in League A Group 2, level on points with third-placed England and two behind leaders Belgium, while Iceland are rock bottom of the section on zero points.

Match preview

Denmark's Christian Eriksen celebrates scoring against England in the UEFA Nations League on October 14, 2020 © Reuters

Two wins, one draw and one defeat from four matches has seen Denmark collect seven points, which as mentioned, leaves them in second position in the section behind Belgium.

The fact that Belgium and England will lock horns on the same night makes this particular match even more important for Denmark, who will be desperate to pick up another three points ahead of their final group fixture away to Roberto Martinez's side on November 18.

Kasper Hjulmand's team only gathered one point from their first two matches of the 2020-21 Nations League at home to Belgium and away to England, but they beat Iceland 3-0 on October 11 before recording an impressive 1-0 victory at Wembley three days later courtesy of a penalty from Christian Eriksen.

Denmark were also victorious in a friendly on Wednesday night, beating Sweden 2-0 on home soil courtesy of goals from substitutes Jonas Wind and Alexander Bah.

The Red and Whites will also be present at next summer's European Championships, having finished second behind Switzerland in Group D and could be a team to watch in the competition.

England's Phil Foden in action with Iceland's Hjortur Hermannsson in the UEFA Nations League on September 5, 2020 © Reuters

Iceland, meanwhile, suffered heartbreak in their Euro 2020 playoff clash on Thursday night, conceding two late goals to Hungary to suffer a 2-1 defeat.

Everton's Gylfi Sigurdsson had sent the visitors ahead in the 11th minute, but Loic Nego and Dominik Szoboszlai both registered in the final exchanges to ensure that Iceland will miss out on a spot in the finals.

The result will have been incredibly difficult to take, and it would therefore not be a surprise to see a slightly withdrawn and downbeat Iceland side take to the field for this match.

Erik Hamren's side have actually lost all eight of their UEFA Nations League matches since the start of the tournament, including all four matches with England, Belgium and Denmark in 2020-21.

The Euro 2016 quarter-finalists will be keen to end their losing run in the competition, but they have two difficult matches away to Denmark and England to come.

Denmark Nations League form: WDLDWW
Denmark form (all competitions): LDWWWW

Iceland Nations League form: LLLLLL
Iceland form (all competitions): LLWLLL

Team News

Denmark players celebrate against Sweden on November 11, 2020 © Reuters

There are not expected to be many surprises in the Denmark side on Sunday evening, with Eriksen, Yussuf Poulsen, Martin Braithwaite and Kasper Dolberg all set to feature in attacking positions.

Tottenham Hotspur's Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg should again line up alongside Borussia Dortmund's Thomas Delaney in midfield, while Chelsea's Andreas Christensen will continue alongside captain Simon Kjaer in central defence.

Perhaps the biggest talking point surrounds the left-back spot, but Joakim Maehle impressed in that area of the field against Sweden and could earn another starting role.

As for Iceland, Hamren is expected to make changes from the side that lost to Hungary on Thursday night.

Arnor Ingvi Traustason, Ari Freyr Skulason and Runar Mar Sigurjonsson could all come into the starting side, although Everton attacker Sigurdsson could retain his spot in the first XI.

The visitors also have plenty of options for change in the final third of the field, and Alfred Finnbogason could drop out of the side to allow Kolbeinn Sigthorsson to feature.

Denmark possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel; Wass, Kjaer, Christensen, Maehle; Hojbjerg, Delaney; Poulsen, Eriksen, Braithwaite; Dolberg

Iceland possible starting lineup:
Halldorsson; Palsson, Arnason, R Sigurdsson, Magnusson; Gudmundsson, Traustason, Skulason, Sigurjonsson; G Sigurdsson; Sigthorsson

SM words green background

We say: Denmark 2-0 Iceland

Iceland will enter the match low on confidence, but the same cannot be said for Denmark following an impressive run of results. In truth, we are not expecting a surprise result on Sunday evening, backing the home side to run out routine winners in the League A Group 2 fixture.

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.