Historic opportunity for hard-working Iceland
14.11.2013.
Iceland national football team awaits a historic opportunity against Croatia. In 12 attempts, the first one coming in 1958, Iceland has never managed to book a place at a major tournament. It is the only one of the eight teams in the European zone play-offs without such success.
Very good performances in the World Cup qualifying round, especially the victories over Norway and Slovenia and the epic comeback (4:4) in Switzerland, who won the Group E, have brought Iceland to the second place and the play-offs.
Led by three players who played all of the 900 qualifying minutes - Birkir Bjarnason, goalie Hannes Halldorsson, and Ragnar Sigurdsson, Iceland has won five out of ten matches, with two draws and three losses. 17 points were gained with 17 goals scored, and 15 goals conceded.
Midfielder Bjarnason, who plays in Italy with Sampdoria, scored three times, but the best Icelandic scorers were versatile Gylfi Sigurdsson, the young Tottenham star, and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson, the rising Ajax striker. They both scored four times. Bjarnason's midfield partner, Johann Berg Gudmundsson of AZ in Eredivisie, also managed to put three balls in the opponents' net.
Among major Iceland's forces are also the team captain, midfielder Aron Gunnarsson of Cardiff City, who brings more Premiership experience, as well as reliable defender Ari Skulason and another striker based in the Netherlands, Alfred Finnbogason, with a brace to his name.
The mix of talented youth and veterans' contribution - that of Kari Arnasson, Helgi Daniellson and legendary striker Eidur Gudjohnsen, who today plays in Belgium and is still with 24 goals the best Iceland goalscorer in history - was successfully managed by 65-year-old Lars Lagerbäck.
The Swedish coach has twice been a part of a World Cup with his country, and in 2010 he managed Nigeria at the World Cup in South Africa. His football knowledge, in addition to traditional Scandinavian values of persistence, hard work and discipline that are also attributes of Iceland national team, has played an immense role in this qualifying round.
In the latest FIFA ranking, Iceland was placed at number 46, while it has never been above the 37th place. Therefore, it cannot assume the role of favourites, but due to it's capabilities and virtues, it can most certainly be a hard nut to crack for the Niko Kovač's men.
Led by three players who played all of the 900 qualifying minutes - Birkir Bjarnason, goalie Hannes Halldorsson, and Ragnar Sigurdsson, Iceland has won five out of ten matches, with two draws and three losses. 17 points were gained with 17 goals scored, and 15 goals conceded.
Midfielder Bjarnason, who plays in Italy with Sampdoria, scored three times, but the best Icelandic scorers were versatile Gylfi Sigurdsson, the young Tottenham star, and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson, the rising Ajax striker. They both scored four times. Bjarnason's midfield partner, Johann Berg Gudmundsson of AZ in Eredivisie, also managed to put three balls in the opponents' net.
Among major Iceland's forces are also the team captain, midfielder Aron Gunnarsson of Cardiff City, who brings more Premiership experience, as well as reliable defender Ari Skulason and another striker based in the Netherlands, Alfred Finnbogason, with a brace to his name.
The mix of talented youth and veterans' contribution - that of Kari Arnasson, Helgi Daniellson and legendary striker Eidur Gudjohnsen, who today plays in Belgium and is still with 24 goals the best Iceland goalscorer in history - was successfully managed by 65-year-old Lars Lagerbäck.
The Swedish coach has twice been a part of a World Cup with his country, and in 2010 he managed Nigeria at the World Cup in South Africa. His football knowledge, in addition to traditional Scandinavian values of persistence, hard work and discipline that are also attributes of Iceland national team, has played an immense role in this qualifying round.
In the latest FIFA ranking, Iceland was placed at number 46, while it has never been above the 37th place. Therefore, it cannot assume the role of favourites, but due to it's capabilities and virtues, it can most certainly be a hard nut to crack for the Niko Kovač's men.
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