Switzerland v Iceland: line-ups, coaches' views, form guide
Thursday, September 6, 2018
Article summary
Switzerland welcome Iceland in League A with a long unbeaten home record to protect.
Article top media content
Article body
- Switzerland unbeaten at home since May 2016
- Swiss reached World Cup last 16 this summer
- Iceland now have Erik Hamrén in charge
- UEFA Nations League: all you need to know
- UEFA Nations League calendar: all the fixtures
Possible line-ups
Switzerland: Sommer; Mbabu, Akanji, Schär, Rodríguez; Xhaka, Widmer; Seferovic, Shaqiri, Zuber; Embolo
Iceland: Halldorsson; Sævarsson, Sigurdsson, Ingason, Magnusson; Gíslason, Sigurdsson, Hallfredsson, Bjarnason; Sigurdarson, Bodvarsson
Reporter's view: Matthew Howarth (@UEFAcomMattH)
Die Nati surrendered a 4-1 lead to draw 4-4 with Iceland in the teams' last meeting in September 2013, but Saturday's encounter is unlikely to be a free-scoring affair. Given they have struggled to carve open deep-lying opponents in recent months, patience could be the order of the day for Vladimir Petković's troops against the Nordic nation, who will look to hit the hosts on the counterattack.
What the coaches say
Vladimir Petković, Switzerland coach
We have to take two steps back after the World Cup and then we will start again almost from scratch. The players that are here have earned their spots with consistently good performances. Now they have to show what they can bring to this national team.
Erik Hamrén, Iceland coach
My ambition is to develop the team even more. Hopefully we can show the same mentality as Iceland have shown for a long time now. My dream is to get to EURO 2020, a third finals in a row for Iceland. We know it will be tough – bigger nations than Iceland have had problems getting to finals in recent years – but I think we can do it.
Form guide
Switzerland
2018 World Cup
Qualifying – 2nd in Group B (W9 D0 L1), beat Northern Ireland 1-0agg in play-offs
Final tournament – round of 16 (W1 D2 L1)
Last five matches (most recent first): LDWDW
Iceland
2018 World Cup
Qualifying – 1st in Group I (W7 D1 L2)
Final tournament – 4th in Group D (W0 D1 L2)
Last five matches (most recent first): LLDDL
