Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the UEFA Nations League match.
For Turkey to maintain their leadership, they will need a victory in the far north of Europe, in Iceland, a challenging feat. Will the team achieve this?
Iceland
Indeed, visiting teams in Reykjavik frequently leave with either a defeat or a draw. In 12 matches at Laugardalsvöllur, Iceland have only lost twice, to the strong national teams of Portugal (0:1) and Germany (0:4). They also displayed their resilience in their last home game against Wales. By the half-hour mark, Iceland were trailing 0:2, but within three minutes in the middle of the second half, they equalised. Just a minute before full time, they nearly clinched a victory, but their striker Jón Thorsteinsson hit the woodwork.
Turkey
In the first three rounds of the Nations League, Turkey have dropped only two points, having failed to score against Wales in Cardiff. On the road, however, they have not fared as well, going six matches without a win, including friendlies. Their last success away was an unexpected victory over Germany in November 2023 (3:2), albeit in a friendly. That same week, Turkey struggled against Montenegro, who were kept in the game by goalkeeper Igor Nikić. It was the substitution of Kenan Yıldız that turned the tide. Though not the scorer, his shot was crucial, leading to a rebound goal from the goal line.
Iceland vs Turkey Prediction
The history of Turkey's trips to Iceland has not been favourable for them. In the past 10 years, the hosts have beaten them on all three occasions (3:0, 2:0, 2:1). While Iceland have somewhat weakened due to a generational change, we still expect them to secure at least a point.
