Iceland vs England
It would be very easy for me to dismiss the importance of the UEFA Nations League.
I did once before actually and, to a certain degree, was proved wrong.
After all, UEFA chiefs were ultimately correct in that the tournament largely offered an improvement on the often-seen drudgery of international friendlies.
They were also correct that it tended to enliven matches more than so many of the meaningless encounters we have witnessed between qualifying and tournaments.
And as UEFA Nations League highlights galore duly followed, international teams were largely keen to give it their best shot with European champions Portugal underlining its importance as they won the inaugural tournament on home soil.
However, this time does seem different.
Not the concept, which initially even failed to inspire some players, more the fact that another competition is not so welcome in a 2020-21 campaign which is already going to be crammed into a shorter time frame due to Covid-19.
So, in the scheme of importance, this may be bottom of many people’s priorities.
Talking Points
That is highlighted by the Icelandic squad where there is no Gylfi Sigurdsson, Alfred Finnbogason, Johann Berg Gudmundsson, Ragnar Sigurdsson or Aron Gunnarsson.
The first three decided against playing, Ragnar is injured and Gunnarsson’s club didn’t allow him.
Clearly, with most domestic leagues due to begin after barely a break, this really is a fixture many could do without.
Even Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford has withdrawn from England duty after reporting for duty with an ankle problem.
It is understood to be minor and United hope he will be available to start the Premier League season after some rest.
A bigger tournament though would surely have been worth the risk?
I expect there to be plenty of new faces who earn an England cap on Saturday: a few from the start, the majority from the bench.
With Rashford and his club skipper Harry Maguire among the absentees, there have been an additional number of call-ups, including Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish who has previously represented England at Under-21 level and was a member of Gareth Southgate’s 2016 Toulon Tournament-winning squad.
Then there is Wolves defender Conor Coady and Arsenal’s exciting young talent Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
They will all be keen to lay down a marker to Southgate with two successive summer tournaments scheduled.
The disruption caused to the football calendar by coronavirus, including Euro 2020 being delayed by a year until 2021, means this will actually be England’s first match since November last year, when a 4-0 win in Kosovo concluded their Euro 2020 qualification campaign.
As for Iceland in Reykjavik, they will be no pushovers but, even with a full squad, would not have been expected to win, or even draw.
Their population of around 360,000 will always see them as massive underdogs and, whatever happens, Icelandic people will always retain their love affair with the English game.
The result of this clash? Well, it’s just not that important!
History
From their first meeting in 1956, to their most recent four years ago, England have won nine and drawn two of their 12 clashes.
Yet the only match which was not a friendly caused the biggest shock in international football history and produced a result which shamed England and was Iceland’s finest hour.
A truly magnificent win for the international minnows at Euro 2016.
Captain Wayne Rooney fired the Three Lions ahead but then Ragnar Sigurdsson equalised and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson rifled home the winner to consign England to arguably the worst defeat in their long history.
Manager Roy Hodgson resigned immediately after the game.
In the words of former defender Gudni Bergsson, who shone for Bolton in the Premier League and also represented Spurs with distinction in English football: ‘It was something special, that a small nation of Iceland was actually capable of beating England in an important game. It is a similar fairy-tale story to Leicester winning the Premier League. It captured the imagination.’
Betting Tip
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Iceland vs England | Total Goals 4-6 @ 2.92 |
| September 06, 00:00 (GMT+8) |
If you fancy a risk and potentially a worthwhile payday, then look at the SBOTOP UEFA Nations League betting odds and opt for Iceland 1X2 @ 12.50 or Asian Handicap Iceland +1.50 @ 2.09.
Perhaps the draw @ 5.20 appeals, Double Chance Iceland or Draw @ 3.70, or how about a repeat of the shock of all shocks from four years ago – correct score Iceland 2-1 England – available @ 65.00.
Then there’s the obvious backing for England 1X2 @ 1.24 or Asian Handicap – 1.75 @ 2.16.
I expect plenty of goals in an England win.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| = €20 (Highly confident) |
 = €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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