Iceland vs Albania

Laugardalsvöllur plays host to an intriguing UEFA Nations League Group B2 showdown between Iceland and Albania.

Iceland and Israel shared the spoils in their topsy-turvy Group 2 curtain-raiser (2-2) as the ‘Our Boys’ completed a turnaround only to drop a slender lead in the 84th minute. Iceland’s patchy form since a 4-0 home thrashing of Liechtenstein in a World Cup qualifier in October 2021 has seen them alternate between draws (4) and defeats (3) in their last seven internationals. On a more positive note, Iceland’s triumph over Liechtenstein in their most recent home outing halted their abysmal run of six home matches without winning (D2, L4). It also marked their first home clean sheet since October 2019, with Arnar Vidarsson’s side conceding 2+ goals in five out of eight such fixtures in between.

In the meantime, Albania could only manage a dismal goalless draw with Georgia in an international friendly last time out, making it one win from five matches (D1, L3). A lack of firepower saw the Albanians go scoreless three times during that five-game sequence. On top of that, Edoardo Reja’s men have failed to score in their last two Nations League games away from home. However, Albania are unbeaten in their three most recent Nations League matches on the road (W1, D2), all of which saw them keep a clean sheet. With their last five away fixtures in the competiitons featuring under 2.5 goals, it seems reasonable to assume that the Laugardalsvöllur crowd could be in for a cagey, low-scoring affair.