Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the UEFA Nations League match.
Iceland and Montenegro failed to secure a spot in Euro 2024, although the Scandinavian side came close in their playoff final against Ukraine (1:2). The hosts are favoured for the upcoming match, although their opponents will not allow them to play their preferred style.
Iceland
Albert Gudmundsson, Iceland's current star, recently transferred to Fiorentina, marking a step up in his club career. However, he is currently recovering from an injury, which significantly impacts their attacking potential. Without Albert, they struggled in June friendlies against England (0:1) and the Netherlands (0-4), finding it difficult to operate in the attacking third. In Rotterdam, the Scandinavian side managed just one shot on target, underscoring their decline from top-tier threats.
Montenegro
Montenegro also had a poor start to the summer campaign, faltering in attack against Belgium (0:2) and Montenegro (1:3). At home in Podgorica, veteran forward Stevan Jovetić scored another goal for the national team—the former Manchester City player remains irreplaceable in their attack. Lecce forward Nikola Krstović has had a slow start to this campaign, with four starts and only two accurate shots.
Iceland - Montenegro Prediction
Both teams tend to switch to a five-man defence when on the back foot. Iceland may create slightly more opportunities against Montenegro, but goals should not be expected as both sides face considerable challenges in attack.
