In the UEFA Nations League 2024-2025, Türkiye faced off against Iceland at the Gürsel Aksel Stadium, Izmir, in a crucial League B, Group B4 fixture. Both teams came into the match with high stakes, looking to strengthen their positions in the group and push towards promotion to League A. Türkiye, led by Vincenzo Montella, sought to maintain momentum at home, while Iceland, under the guidance of Åge Hareide, aimed to bounce back after recent setbacks. The match turned out to be an intense battle, with Türkiye securing a 3-1 victory thanks to an outstanding performance from Kerem Aktürkoğlu.
Türkiye National Football Team vs Iceland National Football Team Head-to-Head
Historically, Türkiye and Iceland have had a tightly contested rivalry. Heading into this encounter, Türkiye had won 3 of their last 14 matches against Iceland, who held 8 victories. Iceland’s physical style often gave them an edge, but Türkiye, with their technical flair, looked to break the Icelandic dominance.
- Wins:
- Türkiye: 3
- Iceland: 8
- Draws: 3
- Goals:
- Türkiye: 14
- Iceland: 24
Türkiye National Football Team vs Iceland National Football Team Lineups and Substitutes
Türkiye National Football Team (Coach: Vincenzo Montella)
- Starting XI:
- GK: Mert Günok
- DF: Merih Demiral, Abdülkerim Bardakcı, Mert Müldür, Eren Elmalı
- MF: Hakan Çalhanoğlu (C), İsmail Yüksek, İrfan Can Kahveci, Arda Güler
- FW: Kerem Aktürkoğlu, Umut Nayir
- Substitutes:
- Zeki Çelik (73’ for Mert Müldür)
- Orkun Kökçü (46’ for Hakan Çalhanoğlu)
- Kenan Yıldız (73’ for İrfan Can Kahveci)
- Okay Yokuşlu (81’ for Umut Nayir)
- Kaan Ayhan (87’ for İsmail Yüksek)
Iceland National Football Team (Coach: Åge Hareide)
- Starting XI:
- GK: Valdimarsson
- DF: Grétarsson, Pálsson, Hermannsson, Finnsson
- MF: J. Gudmundsson (C), G. Sigurdsson, Anderson, Thorsteinsson, S. Thórdarson
- FW: A. Gudjohnsen
- Substitutes:
- Willum Thor Willumsson (46’ for Anderson)
- Orri Óskarsson (59’ for Gylfi Sigurdsson)
- Arnór Ingvi Traustason (59’ for Jón Dagur Thorsteinsson)
- Valgeir Fridriksson (59’ for Victor Pálsson)
Türkiye National Football Team vs Iceland National Football Team First Half Summary
Türkiye made a blistering start, taking the lead in the 2nd minute through Kerem Aktürkoğlu, who finished off a slick move with a calm strike. Iceland tried to regroup but struggled to break down Türkiye’s organized defense. Iceland found a breakthrough in the 37th minute when J. Gudmundsson’s corner found Victor Pálsson, who headed home to level the score.
Both teams entered halftime locked at 1-1, with Türkiye dominating possession but Iceland proving dangerous on set pieces.
Half-Time Score: Türkiye 1-1 Iceland
Türkiye National Football Team vs Iceland National Football Team Second Half Summary
The second half saw Türkiye come out with renewed intent. In the 52nd minute, Kerem Aktürkoğlu netted his second goal of the match, converting Eren Elmalı’s cross with a well-placed shot. Iceland pushed for an equalizer, but Türkiye’s defense, led by Merih Demiral, held firm.
In the dying moments of the game, Kerem Aktürkoğlu completed his hat-trick in the 88th minute after an assist from Arda Güler, sealing Türkiye’s 3-1 victory.
Full-Time Score: Türkiye 3-1 Iceland
Türkiye National Football Team vs Iceland National Football Team Stats
| Türkiye vs Iceland Stats | Türkiye | Iceland |
| Goals | 3 | 1 |
| Possession (%) | 64% | 36% |
| Total Shots | 15 | 8 |
| Shots on Target | 8 | 3 |
| Corners | 6 | 4 |
| Fouls Committed | 18 | 15 |
| Yellow Cards | 2 | 2 |
| Offsides | 2 | 1 |
| Pass Accuracy (%) | 85% | 78% |
Türkiye National Football Team vs Iceland National Football Team Timeline
- 2’ – Goal! Kerem Aktürkoğlu (Türkiye) opens the scoring after an assist from Umut Nayir.
- 37’ – Goal! Victor Pálsson (Iceland) heads in from a J. Gudmundsson corner.
- 52’ – Goal! Kerem Aktürkoğlu (Türkiye) scores his second, assisted by Eren Elmalı.
- 73’ – Substitution for Türkiye: Zeki Çelik replaces Mert Müldür.
- 73’ – Substitution for Türkiye: Kenan Yıldız replaces İrfan Can Kahveci.
- 88’ – Goal! Kerem Aktürkoğlu (Türkiye) completes his hat-trick, assisted by Arda Güler.
- 90’+5’ – Full-time whistle, Türkiye wins 3-1.
Türkiye National Football Team vs Iceland National Football Team Impact on the Points Table
This victory significantly bolstered Türkiye’s chances of topping Group B4 in the UEFA Nations League 2024-2025. They moved ahead of Iceland, narrowing the gap on group leaders. For Iceland, the defeat hampered their aspirations of promotion, putting pressure on them in their remaining fixtures.
Man of the Match
Kerem Aktürkoğlu was the undisputed man of the match. His hat-trick powered Türkiye to a crucial victory, showcasing his ability to finish clinically in key moments. His tireless runs, positioning, and sharp finishing were decisive in Türkiye’s win.
Türkiye’s 3-1 triumph over Iceland in the UEFA Nations League 2024-2025 was a testament to their tactical discipline and attacking prowess. Kerem Aktürkoğlu’s hat-trick was the highlight of the match, while Iceland’s resilience was undone by Türkiye’s superior possession and clinical finishing. The win strengthened Türkiye’s position in League B, Group B4, as they aim for promotion to League A.
