FREE Sports Picks and Previews: UEFA Nations League A 11/15/18
Iceland at Belgium - International UEFA Nations - League A
Pick: (2 units) Belgium -2
Belgium welcome Iceland to King Baudouin Stadium knowing victory will put them in control of their UEFA Nations League group. Iceland, meanwhile, have already been relegated to League B following three-straight defeats. If anything, complacency could be an issue for Belgium here, having won ten-straight H2H’s against the Icelanders. However, there’s nothing that suggests laxness in this Belgium squad - excluding the recent World Cup, the team have played 23 matches without defeat (W17, D6). Across that period, the hosts won by two or more goals on 12 occasions, and at home have scored 3.1 goals on average per match over their last ten fixtures (in all competitions). Keeping it tight, in their last 13 home matches Belgium have kept six clean sheets, and conceded exactly one goal in six. Iceland, meanwhile, may be relishing a step down to UNL League B. Not counting the WC, they are without a win in eight (D2, L6), in which they’ve conceded a whopping 24 goals. Expect Belgium to continue their reign winning 3-0.
Spain at Croatia - International UEFA Nations - League A
Pick: (1 unit) Spain -½
A shocking 3-2 home loss to England ended Spain’s 100% UEFA Nations League record, but victory here in Zagreb will guarantee the ‘Red Fury’ top spot in League A, Group 4, and a path into the tournament finals. At the bottom with just one point and no goals (D1, L1), home side Croatia have the daunting task of defeating Spain, and then England away, in order to advance. Their home form is impressive though. Croatia haven’t lost at home since October 2013, going unbeaten in 21 games since then (W17, D4 - including friendlies). Spain are on their own impressive streak too, having scored in 28-consecutive games – no other nation is on a longer run. The three-time European champions have also scored two or more goals in each of their four games since the World Cup (W3, D1 – in all competitions), netting at least two during the first-half in three of those matches. The visitors enter this encounter with a decent record against Croatia, winning four of seven previous H2Hs (W4, D1, L2). Spain wins this close battle 1-0.