Montenegro and Iceland on November 16, 2024, is a critical encounter in the UEFA Nations League, particularly for both teams facing relegation threats. Montenegro’s form has been dismal, remaining winless in official matches for an entire year and suffering recent defeats to teams such as Wales and Turkey In contrast, Iceland's performance has been marginally better with one victory against the same opponents but still grappling with inconsistency. This context sets the stage for a tense match where the stakes are high for both sides.
The "Brave Falcons" have never qualified for a major tournament. They had a chance to reach Euro 2024, but ultimately lost head-to-head games against neighboring Serbia, finishing in third place. Iceland, meanwhile, had a difficult 2023, though they reached the spring playoffs for a European Championship spot. They defeated Israel 4-1 but lost the decisive game 2-1 to Ukraine.
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Montenegro is currently led by former Croatian star Robert Prosinečki, but his tenure has been disappointing, with the team losing all four matches this fall – twice to Wales (scoring their only goal against them) and also to Iceland and Turkey.
Montenegro possible starting lineup: Mijatovic; Marusic, Vujacic, Sipcic, Radunovic; Bakic, Jankovic; Camaj, Jovetic, Krstovic; Mugosa
Iceland possible starting lineup: Valdimarsson; Sampsted, Gunnarsson, Ingason, Tomasson; Thorsteinsson, Gudmundsson, Traustason, Ellertsson; Oskarsson, Gudjohnsen
In upcoming UEFA Nations League matches, two stars of the Iceland squad will be unavailable: Albert Guðmundsson (Fiorentina) and Hákon Arnar Haraldsson (Lille), due to recovering from injuries. This could significantly impact Åge Hareide's plans. Frankly speaking, the visitors certainly do not look like favorites against the tenacious Montenegro team. Do not expect a high number of goals in this match either, considering Prosinečki's emphasis on compactness in lines and additional coverage in defensive ranks. The final score of 1:1 seems most realistic. Key choice
Key players will play a significant role in determining the outcome of this fixture. While Montenegro struggles with its overall team coordination and morale, Iceland faces additional challenges due to injuries affecting two of its key players . Predictions suggest a low-scoring affair with under 1.5 goals anticipated and over 8.5 total corners expected; thus indicating that despite their difficulties, both teams may engage defensively (Preview: Montenegro vs. Iceland - prediction, team news, lineups). Ultimately, this match could have significant implications for both nations' futures in international football.
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