Iceland Women vs Finland Women predictions: Helmarit may be underrated
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- Iceland Women have won just one of their last 11 games
- Finland Women have won six of their last 10 competitive matches
- Recommended bet: Finland Women draw no bet
The first match of this year’s Women’s European Championships sees Iceland take on Finland in a wide-open Group A on Wednesday.
Iceland finished second behind Germany in qualifying to reach this point while Finland had to come through a play-off, beating Scotland 2-0 to reach the main draw.
Team news
Finland’s key players Natalia Kuikka, Elli Pikkujamsa and Jutta Rantala have all recovered from long-term injuries to make the squad for this tournament but there may be a degree of ring rust for the trio.
Glodis Perla Viggosdottir is the first Icelandic player, male or female, to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or, and she will feature at centre-half for her side.
The stats
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Iceland have won just one of their 12 matches in European Championship history, a group stage win over the Netherlands in 2013 and have just one clean sheet in that run.
Sveindis Jonsdottir was Iceland’s top scorer in qualifying with three goals.
Linda Sallstrom is Finland’s record goalscorer, having netted 62 times for her nation.
Finland have kept eight clean sheets in their last 11 matches.
Prediction
Iceland may be ranked 12 places higher in the FIFA rankings than Finland but they come into this tournament in poor form and may be worth taking on in the opener.
Porsteinn Halldorsson’s side have won just one of their last 11 games in all competitions, struggling mightily in a Nations League group alongside Switzerland, France and Norway.
They have also got a poor European Championships record, winning just one of their 12 matches.
Finland on the other hand have reached the quarter-finals twice and come into this year’s tournament in decent nick after winning six of their last 10 competitive encounters.
They have six players who play in the Women’s Super League and Natalia Kuikka in defence is their star player, the only Finnish woman ever to win the NWSL Championship, the American top flight.
Both teams should be well organised so this looks likely to be a low-scoring affair, but one in which Finland cannot be underestimated.
They beat Italy in qualifying and could produce another shock here.
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