Turkey v Iceland background
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Article summary
Turkey have won only once in eight encounters with Iceland but now need only to avoid defeat to claim a play-off place, while the visitors can win Group A with a victory.
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Article body
Turkey will look to make amends for a 3-0 defeat in the teams' opening Group A game when they host Iceland in their final UEFA EURO 2016 qualifier.
• Third in the section, Turkey lead the fourth-placed Netherlands by two points and also boast a superior head-to-head record. They need a win or a draw to guarantee third position and cause the Oranje to miss their first UEFA EURO finals since 1984.
• Iceland and the Czech Republic, who finish in the Netherlands, have qualified, with the former leading the way by a point. With their head-to-head records identical – both sides won 2-1 at home – Iceland (+12) have the edge on the Czechs (+4) on goal difference in the event of the teams finishing level on points.
Previous meetings
• Jón Dadi Bödvarsson headed Iceland in front on 9 September 2014, with Gylfi Sigurdsson and Kolbeinn Sigthórsson scoring following the 59th-minute dismissal of Turkey's Ömer Toprak.
• Turkey's record in eight games against Iceland is W1 D2 L5 (W1 D1 L1 in Turkey). That sole victory came under current coach Fatih Terim – 5-0 in a EURO '96 qualifier on 12 October 1994.
• Terim also scored the second and final goal of his 51-cap international playing career against Iceland, in a 3-1 defeat in Izmir in a September 1980 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
Form guide
• Turkey are unbeaten in three Group A home games since losing 2-1 to the Czech Republic 12 months ago.
• Iceland have won three of their Group A away matches without conceding, their lone defeat a 2-1 reverse in the Czech Republic in November 2014.
Disciplinary
• The latest booking list is available here: http://www.uefa.org/disciplinary/disciplinary-cases/booking-lists/index.html.
Trivia and links
• Iceland defender Kári Árnason turns 33 on the day of the Turkey game.
• Iceland midfielder Ólafur Skúlason plays his club football in Turkey with Gençlerbirliği SK.
• In eight meetings between the nations in UEFA age-group tournaments, Iceland's record is W1 D1 L6.
• The only three UEFA club competition games between Icelandic and Turkish teams have ended in Turkish victories – the winning side scoring three goals in each match.
