Our prediction for this Nations League match:
After playing out a thrilling 2-2 draw with Israel, Iceland will look to record their first win of the process when they take on Albania in Reykjavik. The Icelanders looked sharp in front of goal in their opener, meaning that head coach Arnar Vidarsson is unlikely to make changes up front. One of the men to watch in the home side will be CSKA Moscow winger Arnor Sigurdsson, who found the net in the draw with Iceland.
The Albanians, on the other hand, played out a boring goalless draw with Georgia in the opening match of their UEFA Nations League campaign. Iceland and Albania seem to be evenly matched at the moment, and, taking everything into account, punters from all around the globe can find value in betting on draw. As for the visiting side, experienced Konyaspor forward Sokol Cikalleshi is widely expected to return to the starting line-up.
Highlighted Player (Gylfi Sigurdsson):
Arguably one of Iceland’s most famous footballers ever, Gylfi Sigurdson was born In Reykjavik on 9 September 1989, but he never played for an Icelandic club on senior level. Having shown a great deal of potential while playing for FH and Breidablik youth teams, the attacking midfielder was snatched by Reading in 2008 and he has since spent the majority of his career in England.
Sigurdsson also went on to represent Hoffenheim and Tottenham Hotspur, but he played his best football during the two spells with Swansea City, scoring 25 goals in first 85 Premier League games for the Swans. Sigurdsson became famous for his dangerous free-kicks and killer passes in the final third, but he was never given a genuine opportunity to prove his worth while at Tottenham Hotspur.
The highly rated footballer had a key role to play as Iceland secured their first ever appearance at a major tournament finals, scoring 6 goals in 10 Euro 2016 qualifiers to ensure he would remain in the history books for years to come.
Highlighted Team (Albania):
The Albanian national football team has represented the country on international stage since 1946, and it is interesting to note that Albania was one of the founding members of UEFA back in 1954. The Eagles have enjoyed very little success in the 20th century, but they managed to show some improvement at the turn of the century and eventually secured their first ever appearance at a major tournament.
Albania qualified for the Euro 2016 finals as they came second in their qualifying group behind Portugal, taking 14 points from 8 matches, with Italian coach Gianni De Biasi at the helm. The Eagles have never qualified for the World Cup finals in 11 attempts, winning mere 14 of 94 World Cup qualifiers.
Former Lazio defender Lorik Cana has worn the captain’s armband over the last few years and he is Albania’s most capped player, while former Chievo forward Erjon Bogdani still holds the record for most goals for the national team, with 18 strikes in 74 appearances.