World Cup Team Guide: Iceland

Matt Morley 5 years ago 364
Iceland are appearing at their first World Cup. EFE/Archive

We take a look at everything you should know about Iceland ahead of this summer's World Cup.

Manager: Heimir Hallgrimsson

Key Player: Gylfi Sigurdsson - The playmaker beat his own record as the most expensive Icelandic footballer of all time with his summer move to Everton and has been named Icelandic Footballer of the Year for the last six years in a row.

Qualifying:

Iceland claimed 22 points from their 10 games to top Group I, finishing two points ahead of Croatia.

Last time out:

2014 World Cup:

Iceland failed to qualfy in 2014, coming second behind Switzerland in Group E in qualifying, before losing 2-0 to Croatia over two legs in a play-off.

History:

The 2018 World Cup will be Iceland's first, having failed to reach the tournament in 12 previous attempts.

Who will they face?

Argentina (2pm, June 16, Moscow), Nigeria (4pm, June 22, Volgograd), Croatia (7pm, June 26, Rostov-On-Don).

Final squad:

Goalkeepers: Hannes Halldorsson (Randers), Frederik Schram (Roskilde), Runar Runarsson (Nordsjaelland).

Defenders: Samuel Fridjonsson (Valerenga) , Holmar Eyjolfsson (Levski Sofia), Ragnar Sigurdsson (Rostov), Kari Arnason (Aberdeen), Ari Feyr Skulason (Lokeren), Sverrir Ingi Ingason (Rostov), Birkir Mar Saevarsson (Valur), Hordur Bjorgvin Magnusson (Bristol City).

Midfielders: Johann Berg Gudmundsson (Burnley), Aron Gunnarsson (Cardiff City), Birkir Bjarnason (Aston Villa), Olafur Skulason (Kardemir Karabukspor), Rurik Gislason (Sandhausen), Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton), Arnor Traustason (Malmo), Emil Hallfredsson (Udinese).

Forwards: Albert Gudmundsson (PSV), Jon Dadi Bodvarsson (Reading), Alfred Finnbogason (Augsburg), Bjorn Bergman Sigurdarson (Rostov).

Mentioned in the news story

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