Iceland v Turkey background
Sunday, June 1, 2014
Article summary
Iceland will look to be an irritant to Turkey once more as they seek a fourth home success against their opponents in their UEFA EURO 2016 Group A opener.
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Article body
Iceland have reason for optimism as they take on Turkey in their first UEFA EURO 2016 Group A game, having had the better of the nations' previous encounters.
Match background
• In seven games against Turkey, Iceland's record is W4 D2 L1 (W3 D1 L0 at home – W1 D1 L1 in Turkey).
• The sides first met in 1982 FIFA World Cup qualifying. Janus Gudlaugsson (12), Albert Gudmundsson (62) and Teitur Thordarsson (80) scored in a 3-1 win for Gudni Kjartansson's Iceland in Izmir on 24 September 1980, current coach Fatih Terim (72) replying for Sabri Kiraz's Turkey. It was the second and final goal of Terim's 51-cap international career.
• Lárus Gudmundsson (21) and Atli Edvaldsson (65) scored as Iceland won the return fixture 2-0 in Reykjavik on 9 September 1981. Fethi Demircan was Turkey coach.
• The sides were matched again in 1990 World Cup qualifying. On 12 October 1988, Ünal Karaman (73) cancelled out Gudmundur Torfason's opener (62) in Istanbul as Tınaz Tırpan's side earned a 1-1 draw. Siggi Held's Iceland beat Turkey 2-1 in the return fixture on 20 September 1989, Pétur Pétursson (56 72) striking twice before Feyyaz Uçar (85) replied for Turkey.
• On 17 July 1991 Iceland beat Sepp Piontek's Turkey 5-1 in a friendly game in Reykjavik. Ünal Karaman (14) briefly levelled after Sigurdur Örn Gretarsson's second-minute opener, but four goals from Arnór Gudjohnsen (26, 40, 45, 64) – the father of Eidur Gudjohnsen – secured a comfortable win for Ásgeir Elíasson's side.
• Turkey redressed the balance when the sides were paired in EURO '96 qualifying. On 12 October 1994 – with Terim in charge – Turkey beat Elíasson's Iceland 5-0 in Istanbul, Saffet Sancaklı (8, 26), Hakan Şükür (27 61) and Sergen Yalçın (65) the scorers, the latter registering his first international goal. The return fixture on 11 October 1995, the nations' most recent senior meeting, ended 0-0.
• 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 clubs have ended in Turkish victories – the winning side scoring three goals in each game.
