UEFA EURO 2016: Iceland team preview

Having never previously reached the finals of a major tournament, the Icelandic national team have made history by qualifying for Euro 2016. And considering we’re talking about a country whose population is just over 332,000 this is quite a remarkable feat. To put this into perspective, that is 176,000 less than the population of the metropolitan area of Saint-Etienne which is where Iceland will play their first group match against Portugal.

Iceland aren’t necessarily a country that spring to mind when it comes to footballing prowess, but thanks to an excellent couple of years, climbing to 35^th in the FIFA World rankings from a lowly 131^st, Strákarnir okkar are starting to make a name for themselves in the world of international football.

Although they are by far the smallest country to have made it to these finals, Iceland certainly aren’t in France to make up the numbers. A very impressive qualifying campaign – which saw them defeat the likes of the Netherlands, Czech Republic and Turkey – put paid to any such notions.

Euro 2016 Squad

Goalkeepers: Hannes Þór Halldórsson, Ögmundur Kristinsson and Ingvar Jónsson.

Defenders: Ari Freyr Skúlason, Hörður Björgvin Magnússon, Hjörtur Hermannsson, Ragnar Sigurðsson, Kári Árnason, Sverrir Ingi Ingason, Birkir Már Sævarsson and Haukur Heiðar Hauksson.

Midfielders: mil Hallfreðsson, Gylfi Þór Sigurðsson, Aron Einar Gunnarsson, Theodór Elmar Bjarnason, Arnór Ingvi Traustason, Birkir Bjarnason, Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson, Eiður Smári Guðjohnsen and Rúnar Már Sigurjónsson.

Strikers: Kolbeinn Sigþórsson, Alfreð Finnbogason and Jón Daði Böðvarsson.

Key Player: Gylfi Sigurdsson

Having featured prominently for the under 21’s in the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championships Sigurdsson has been at the forefront of the first teams’ achievements since 2012. The 26 year old Swansea City midfielder was not only Iceland’s top scorer during qualifying, but, with six goals, including a brace against the Netherlands, Sigurdsson finished as the groups’ overall top scorer.

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As fans of the Premier League will know Sigurdsson has made a name for himself as a free-kick specialist, but can be equally deadly from open play, both in terms of his ability to score goals and create opportunities for those around him.

Qualifying

Group Matches

Portugal v Iceland – 14 June, 2016

Iceland v Hungary – 18 June, 2016

Iceland v Austria – 22 June, 2016

Click here for the full Euro 2016 match schedule. 

Verdict

Under the joint stewardship of Lars Lagerbäck and Heimir Hallgrímsson (took over in 2013) Iceland have made solid progress as a footballing nation. In terms of their current group of players, over the last two to three years there been few personnel changes which has allowed the squad to develop and come together as a unit.

Losing only two out of 10 qualifying matches, both of which by only a single goal, Iceland proved to be a tough nut to crack. Scoring 17 goals and conceding only six, qualification was secured before the final match-day, which they lost 1-0, conceding a last minute free-kick in a tight game against fellow Euro 2016 qualifiers Turkey.

Looking ahead to their task at Euro 2016, pitted together with Portugal, Austria and Hungary, it’s going to be tough. Having said this, when drawn against Czech Republic, Netherlands and Turkey in qualifying that also looked a big ask, yet Iceland came through with relative ease.

From a betting point of view Iceland have been inserted as third favourites to win their group and on reflection that probably isn’t too unfair, given both Portugal’s pedigree at international level and the fact that Austria remained unbeaten in qualifying, topping their group with no less than 28 points.

The bet that catches the eye is Iceland to accumulate over 3.5 points in the group stages. Hungary will be the banker for the Icelanders here, three points in this one is a must. And having qualified in much finer style, from a tougher group, they should be well equipped to get the victory. While a point from either game against Portugal and Austria certainly isn’t beyond the realms of possibility and in actual fact there may be far less between those three teams than people initially think.

Secondly, in their opening game against Portugal, Iceland draw no bet (stake returned if match ends in a draw) looks a good bet at appealing odds of 7/2. If the betting is anything to go by in this game then the Portuguese should have no trouble taking three points; however, the disparity in prices here just doesn’t add up. During qualifying Iceland thrived in games where the opposing team came to attack. This allowed the Nordic side to remain compact and expose the vacant space in behind. Victories against Turkey, Holland and Czech Republic serve as good examples. Portugal, who seem to have been made such hot favourites for the opener on name alone, came through a reasonably easy qualifying group. Finishing ahead of Armenia and Albania, as well as the under achieving Serbian and Danish teams, doesn’t exactly prove their credentials as a real force at this level. Furthermore the Portuguese, as heavy favourites, aren’t likely to take a defensive approach in this match which means that Iceland, tactics permitting, could spring a few surprises and cause what looks an ageing back four plenty of problems.