Iceland and Kosovo will complete their UEFA Nations League promotion/relegation playoff tie on Sunday, when they meet at the Estadio Nueva Condomina in Spain.
Kosovo head into the second leg with a narrow aggregate lead, after winning on home soil on Thursday.
Match preview
© Imago
Iceland return to action on Sunday aiming to overturn a deficit in their UEFA Nations League promotion/relegation playoff tie and preserve their League B status ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.
They endured a tough campaign in group B4, picking up seven points from their six games to finish third, as a pair of 2-0 wins over Montenegro was enough to see the Strakarnir Okkar avoid bottom spot and an immediate relegation.
After the second of those wins, they finished with a trip to Wales in November and succumbed to a 4-1 beating in Age Hareide‘s last game in the international hot seat, despite leading early through Andri Gudjohnsen, as Liam Cullen put the hosts 2-1 up in the first half and Brennan Johnson and Harry Wilson stretched the lead after the interval.
They then turned to new boss Arnar Gunnlaugsson, who began his tenure in Thursday’s first leg against Kosovo, and despite drawing level at a goal apiece through Orri Oskarsson in the first half of that contest, Iceland now head to Spain needing to come from behind and prevail on aggregate if they are to avoid relegation in the UEFA Nations League.
Their opponents, meanwhile, head into the second leg aiming to extend their lead and punch their ticket to League B for the first time.
In their third straight campaign in third tier of the UEFA Nations League, Kosovo were able to achieve a second-placed finish in group C2 last year, winning four and losing two of their six games to finish only behind Romania.
Those two losses came against the group winners, who won all six of their games, while the Dardanet completed doubles over Cyprus and Lithuania, beating the former 4-0 and 3-0 before finishing with a 1-0 triumph over the latter in mid-November thanks to Muharrem Jashari‘s early goal.
Thursday’s home leg against Iceland was their first outing since that last victory last year, and Franco Foda‘s side took a crucial aggregate lead, as Lumbardh Dellova opened the scoring in the 19th minute and Elvis Rexhbecaj put them 2-1 up on the hour mark.
Kosovo now head to Spain hoping to make the most of that advantage and seal their promotion on Sunday.
Team News
© Imago
Iceland will field a similar starting XI from Thursday’s first leg, with defenders Alfons Sampsted and Daniel Leo Gretarsson, talismanic midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson and winger Arnor Sigurdsson not featuring in their squad for the promotion/relegation playoff tie.
Young Real Sociedad attacker Orri Oskarsson will continue to lead the line and don the captain’s armband, having netted his sixth international goal at the age of 20 years old in that first-leg defeat.
He will have support from the likes of Albert Gudmundsson and Andri Gudjohnsen, who boast 10 and eight goals respectively for their nation, while veteran Aron Gunarsson will continue in defence having surpassed 100 caps last year.
Kosovo should also avoid major changes after Thursday’s win in their 4-2-3-1 shape, with goal scorers Lumbardh Dellova and Elvis Rexhbecaj continuing in defence and midfield respectively.
Midfielder Valon Berisha will miss out through suspension, though, meaning Vesel Demaku could join Rexhbecaj in the engine room, while 63-capped captain Amir Rrahmani will partner Dellova in front of Ipswich Town goalkeeper Arijanet Muric.
Vedat Muriqi will again lead the line, having netted a record tally of 28 goals for his nation, 16 clear of second-placed Milot Rashica who plays a key role in support of the front man.
Iceland possible starting lineup:
Valdimarsson; Palsson, Gunarsson, Ingason, Tomasson; Johannesson, Haraldsson; Thorsteinsson, Gudmundsson, Gudjohnsen; Oskarsson
Kosovo possible starting lineup:
Muric; Vojvoda, Rrahmani, Dellova, Paqarada; Demaku, Rexhbecaj; Krasniqi, Rashica, Rrudhani; Muriqi
We say: Iceland 1-1 Kosovo (Kosovo win 3-2 on aggregate)
We certainly anticipate a tight contest between two resilient sides with quality in their ranks on Sunday.
With a slender lead to defend, Kosovo should have enough to stay ahead on neutral ground.
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