Wales vs Iceland Prediction: Team News and Lineups Preview

Wales can still come top of their Nations League group if results go their way on Tuesday evening as Josh Ingram readies a Wales vs Iceland prediction, team news and lineups preview.

Craig Bellamy is yet to taste defeat in the dugout, as he aims to sign off the Nations League with a win. Iceland can go above Wales if they upset the home side. There’s currently newfound optimism surrounding this Welsh side due to the new manager, and rightly so. 

• Wales vs Iceland Tip 1: Wales win and under four goals
• Wales vs Iceland Tip 2: Harry Wilson anytime goalscorer

Wales vs Iceland Prediction 1: Bellamy’s unbeaten streak to continue

Wales, Nations League B, Tuesday, November 19th, 19:45 (UK)

Wales have impressed in the infant stages of Bellamy’s tenure. This Welsh side earned a very respectable point away in Turkey to continue their unbeaten run last time out. Wales still have slim hopes of winning the League B group, but it would require pointless Montenegro to pull off a surprise result when facing Turkey. Regardless of whether they come top, this new look Welsh side have improved greatly and will likely avoid defeat this time out. 

On both occasions where they have won, they did so by a one-goal margin and against the worst side in the group. You can only beat what’s in front of you, so that shouldn’t be knocked, but being unable to capitalise during the 0-0 at home to Turkey, where they were by far the better side, restricts their chances of finishing as group leaders. Progression and improvement is the story of their campaign. 

The Over 3.5 goal total has only gone over once in Bellamy’s first five games, which was a 2-2 draw against Iceland. In the other four games, goals were limited. 

Iceland, unlike Wales, were beaten by Turkey both home and away. In those matches, both games were lost by two clear goals. In the reverse fixture, it was, as the old saying goes, a game of two halves. The Welsh were dominant in the first half, but in the second, Iceland scored twice to draw level, with 15 shots to just 1 Welsh effort. I doubt Bellamy will stand for another instance where they let the game slip away in front of a now-expectant crowd. 

• Wales vs Iceland Prediction 1: Wales win and under four goals(TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 2.15
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 10/10

Wales vs Iceland Prediction 2: Wilson to fire Wales to victory

Under Craig Bellamy’s stewardship, Harry Wilson has been critical to the new manager’s setup. He has started every match playing most of the minutes on offer. Before the 0-0 to Turkey, the Fulham playmaker scored in three consecutive games for Wales. Bellamy commented on Wilson after the Welshman’s late heroics against Brentford by saying, “He’s a player I’m really impressed with, especially his attitude. I’m sure it is frustrating for him at Fulham at the moment, but that’s life and sometimes it doesn’t go your way. It will only change if you work hard.” He also compared him to South Americans he played with, like Suarez and Tevez.

As touched upon in the first selection, Iceland have conceded their fair share of goals. In the games against the top two, they have played three games and conceded nine times. Wales will have the opportunity to create chances. When they do, Wilson will be heavily involved. He is the key cog in this side, with three goals and one assist so far – two clear of Neco Williams. In this Bellamy setup, Wilson is averaging the most shots per game with 2.8, and the most shots on target per game with 1.2. 

When backing a player to score, it is always nice knowing that they are also the main man in dead-ball situations. Wales have had a solitary penalty so far, which came against Montenegro, and Wilson dispatched it. Free kicks are a notable weapon in his locker; he has scored a number in recent years but is yet to find his range in this competition. 

Despite not starting a league game this season for Fulham, he has shown, in not only the Brentford game, that he knows where the net is. He has seven starts and five goals in all competitions this season, including internationals. Bellamy is right, that is impressive.

• Wales vs Iceland Prediction 2: Harry Wilson anytime goalscorer (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 3.75
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 5/10

Wales vs Iceland Prediction odds via bet365 as at 12:00, November 18th, 2024. Odds may now differ.

Wales vs Iceland Injuries, Team News and Possible Lineups: Headclashes and suspensions forcing changes

Injuries hit Wales before the international break. They couldn’t call upon Wes Burns, Owen Beck, Nathan Broadhead and Kieffer Moore as they were all ruled out. There a rather grim sight of Mark Harris’ head collision with Joe Rodon in Turkey which forced the Oxford striker off as the latter managed to see the game out. It’s not certain whether both will start on Tuesday. With Harris likely to miss out, Daniel James is the likely replacement waiting in the wings. 

Suspension due to an accumulation of yellow cards means that Logi Tomasson the Icelandic left-back is forced out of this fixture. Another defensive issue for them to contend with is that Aron Gunnarsson. Iceland’s captain was forced off in the first half due to a thigh injury. Victor Palsson is most likely to replace him at the heart of defence. A nice headache for Hareide to have is Johannesson coming off the bench and scoring, which could now force out either of the two men in the middle.

Wales possible starting lineup:
Darlow; Roberts, Mepham, Davies, Williams; J. James, Sheehan; D. James, Wilson, Thomas; Johnson

Iceland  possible starting lineup:
Valdimarsson; Lunddal, Palsson, Ingason, Sampsted; Gudmundsson, Traustason, Johannesson, Thorsteinsson; Gudjohnsen, Oskarsson

Match Stats: Bellamy creating history

• Wales have lost just one of their eight meetings with Iceland in all competitions. Winning five and drawing twice. The only defeat came in 1984.
• In Iceland’s last three trips to Wales, they have failed to win any of them and lost all three 
• Bellamy’s unbeaten run is the longest of any Wales manager at the start of their tenure. 
• Iceland haven’t won in back-to-back competitive away fixtures since doing so in September 2015 against Kazakhstan and Netherlands.

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