England v Iceland: Nations League predictions, betting preview, free tips & TV

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for England v Iceland in the Uefa Nations League on Wednesday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event, 7.45pm Wednesday

Best bet

England -2 goals on handicap
1pt 17-10 Betfair

Team news

England
Raheem Sterling (calf), Jordan Henderson and Ben Chilwell are out. Harry Maguire is available after suspension, but Reece James remains banned.

Iceland
Ragnar Sigurdsson, Alfred Finnbogason, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Johann Berg Gudmundsson will play no part, while Hordur Magnusson is suspended.

Match preview

England's scrappy 1-0 win over Iceland at the start of their Nations League campaign in September perhaps served as a sign of things to come and punters should not anticipate a spectacle when these sides reconvene at Wembley on Wednesday for their final match of the competition.

Defeat to Belgium on Saturday confirmed Gareth Southgate's men will not feature at next year's Nations League finals and the team's recent performances have felt some way off those of the side who finished third in the 2018-19 tournament.

England have won two, drawn one and lost two of their five group assignments with a dearth of goals central to their demise.

The Three Lions have scored only three goals in their five matches, drawing blanks in three of their last four Nations League encounters as Southgate tinkered with his attacking options.

The domestic success of talents such as Jack Grealish, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Danny Ings has made it harder for a consistent group to gel and there is plenty to sort out before next summer's European Championship.

For now, though, Iceland should represent a routine win and allow England to at least conclude the group stage with more wins than defeats.

Although hit by a number of Covid-19-related absences throughout the tournament, Iceland have fallen significantly short of expectations with five defeats from five games with only three goals scored and 13 conceded.

They will be without a number of key players for the trip to London with skipper Aron Gunnarsson, maestro Gylfi Sigurdsson, Burnley's Johann Berg Gudmundsson and veteran defender Ragnar Sigurdsson all missing from the squad.

That will do no favours for a side whose morale will have hit rock bottom in the last week with relegation from their Nations League section following a heartbreaking exit from the European Championship qualifiers.

Iceland lost their playoff with Hungary 2-1, having led 1-0 until the 88th minute, and their late capitulation coupled with their miserly 26 per cent possession suggests they are far from the level they were at when beating England at Euro 2016.

The reverse fixture saw them come within minutes of snatching a point against the Three Lions and although England should not be expected to obliterate their opponents at Wembley, the lack of pressure to perform should see them run out comfortable winners.

Iceland have shipped at least twice in four of their last five contests, having lost 5-1 to brilliant Belgium in September, and backing England minus two goals on the handicap, meaning they have to win by three or more goals, looks a solid selection.

Key stat

England have scored at least three goals in six of their last eight home matches.

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