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[monks data]
Israel national football team
Nations League | League B
Jun 2, 2022 at 7.45pm UK
 
Iceland national football team

Israel
2 - 2
Iceland

Abada (25'), Weissman (84')
Karzev (66')
FT(HT: 1-1)

Preview: Israel vs. Iceland - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Thursday's Nations League clash between Israel and Iceland, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Israel and Iceland will square off in the UEFA Nations League on Thursday evening as both nations look to bounce back from failing to qualify for the World Cup.

While the home side managed to retain their position in League B Group 2 last time out, Iceland lost all six of their fixtures in League A Group 2.


Match preview

Israel's Dor Peretz celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on March 28, 2021© Reuters

There were times during their World Cup qualifying campaign when Israel looked capable of upsetting the likes of Scotland and Austria to earn a spot in the playoffs.

However, away defeats to each of those nations during the second half of the group left Israel to settle for third spot, seven points adrift of Scotland.

On the plus side, finishing ahead of Austria represented progress for the Blue and White, who now have a new head coach in the form of Alon Hazan after his spells at varying age levels with the national team.

The nature of his progression means that the 54-year-old will be familiar with many of this squad, and expectations are high regarding promotion to League A with Russia having been kicked out of the competition.

Israel now find themselves as favourites to prevail from a three-team group which also includes Albania, and victory in Haifa will set them well on their way.

Iceland, on the other hand, no longer possess the quality which saw them qualify for major tournaments from 2016 onwards, and they have a fight on their hands to not finish in third place.

In 14 matches over the past year, their only two victories have come against the Faroe Islands and Liechenstein, the current winless streak standing at six games.

Last time out, Arnar Vidarsson witnessed his team succumb by a 5-0 scoreline in Spain, each goal being netted in a 36-minute period either side of half time.

To their credit, draws have been posted against Romania and Finland since last November, but this team are at the start of a new era with some of their experienced veterans having hung up their boots on the international stage.

Israel form (all competitions):
  • L
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • L
  • D

Iceland form (all competitions):
  • D
  • L
  • D
  • L
  • D
  • L


Team News

Iceland coach Arnar Vidarsson pictured on March 28, 2021© Reuters

Hazan will make numerous changes to the Israel starting lineup with as many as five players from the last XI not featuring in this squad.

Eli Dasa, Iyad Abu Abaid, Sun Menahem, Manor Solomon and Liel Abada could all be drafted into the team in their place.

Nir Bitton and Eran Zahavi are the two most notable absentees from the squad due to injury.

Despite the manner of the defeat to Spain, Vidarsson is unlikely to make sweeping changes to his Iceland starting lineup.

Sveinn Aron Gudjohnsen is in line to feature in attack with Jon Dadi Bodvarsson not in the squad.

Israel possible starting lineup:
Marciano; Dasa, Abu Abaid, Goldberg, Menahem; Solomon, Natcho, Abu Fani, Abada; Baribo, Dabbur

Iceland possible starting lineup:
Runarsson; Sampsted, Bjarnason, Gretarsson, Magnusson; Thrandarson, Bjarnason, Thordarson; Helgason, Gudjohnsen, Thorsteinsson


SM words green background

We say: Israel 3-1 Iceland

Despite Iceland having been involved in the top tier of this competition more recently, they have a battle on their hands to avoid finishing bottom of this three-nation group. This represents a tough start to their campaign, and we are expecting Israel to record a relatively comfortable win.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data


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Game History

How you voted: Israel vs Iceland

Israel
76.3%
Draw
11.8%
Iceland
11.8%
152
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1 Portugal Portugal431010
2 Croatia Croatia42117
3 Poland Poland41124
4 Scotland flag Scotland40131

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1 Italy Italy431010
2 France France43019
3 Belgium Belgium41124
4 Israel Israel40040

League A3

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2 Netherlands Netherlands41215
3 Hungary Hungary41215
4 Bosnia Bosnia H'vina40131

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1 Spain Spain431010
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3 Serbia Serbia41124
4 Switzerland Switzerland40131

League B1

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1 Czech Republic Czech Republic42117
2 Georgia Georgia42026
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League B2

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1 Greece Greece440012
2 England flag England43019
3 Ireland Rep. Ireland41033
4 Finland Finland40040

League B3

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1 Norway Norway42117
2 Austria Austria42117
3 Slovenia Slovenia42117
4 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan40131

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1 Turkey Turkey431010
2 Wales flag Wales42208
3 Iceland Iceland41124
4 Montenegro Montenegro40040

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1 Sweden Sweden431010
2 Slovakia Slovakia431010
3 Estonia Estonia41033
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1 Romania Romania440012
2 Kosovo flag Kosovo43019
3 Cyprus Cyprus41033
4 Lithuania Lithuania40040

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1 Northern Ireland flag N. Ireland42117
2 Belarus Belarus41306
3 Bulgaria Bulgaria41215
4 Luxembourg flag Luxembourg40222

League C4

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1 Macedonia N. Macedonia431010
2 Armenia Armenia41124
3 Latvia Latvia41124
4 Faroe Islands Faroe Islands40313

League D1

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1 Gibraltar flag Gibraltar31205
2 San Marino flag San Marino21013
3 Liechtenstein flag Liechtenstein30212

League D2

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1 Republic of Moldova Moldova32016
2 Malta flag Malta32016
3 Andorra flag Andorra20020


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