Iceland vs Wales predictions: Hosts can slay Dragons in Reykjavik
- Iceland are unbeaten in their last four home matches
- Wales are missing a number of key players
- Recommended bet: Iceland to win
A crucial clash in Group B4 of the Nations League takes place at Laugardalsvollur on Friday night when Iceland host a Wales side on the up under new manager Craig Bellamy.
Bellamy, who earned 78 caps as a player for the Dragons, was appointed as Rob Page's successor in July 2024 and followed up a 0-0 draw against Turkiye in his first match in charge with a 2-1 victory away to Montenegro.
Optimism is high in the Welsh camp heading into the next two Nations League fixtures, but they have injury issues to contend with and the positive start under the new manager may come crashing down in Reykjavík.
Team news
Midfielder Joe Allen has come out of international retirement and is in line to earn his 75th cap for Wales, while defender Owen Beck will be hoping to make his senior debut for his country.
Aaron Ramsey, Ethan Ampadu, Daniel James and Rabbi Matondo are all absent due to injury, but David Brooks, Nathan Broadhead, Wes Burns and Rhys Norrington-Davies are all included in Craig Bellamy's squad for the first time.
Iceland have made two alterations from the squad used for the September international break, with Arnor Sigurdsson and Hakon Arnar Haraldsson replaced by Victor Palsson and Brynjolfur Willumsson.
The stats
Iceland sit third in Group B4 of the Nations League on three points, just one point behind Turkiye and Wales, who occupy first and second respectively.
Age Hareide's side are on a four-game unbeaten streak at home, beating Bosnia-Herzegovina, Liechtenstein and Montenegro and drawing against Luxembourg.
Wales are yet to taste defeat under new boss Bellamy, drawing one and winning one.
Friday's meeting will be the first clash between these two nations since a 3-1 friendly win for the Dragons in March 2014.
Wales have lost three of their last four away matches in the Nations League, while Iceland are unbeaten in their last three home assignments in this competition.
Prediction
There is no denying the positive start Wales have made since Bellamy took charge, but the challenge now is to keep the form going and that may be difficult against an Iceland side hard to beat at home.
Iceland have racked up three victories and one draw from their last four home assignments and they have managed to keep three clean sheets during that period.
Hareide's troops have some talented attacking options to choose from, with 20-year-old Orri Oskarsson and 22-year-old Andri Gudjohnsen two of the standouts and there looks to be a nice balance between youth and experience in the squad.
This will be real test for a Wales side missing some key figures and the first defeat of Bellamy's tenure could be suffered in Reykjavík.
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