Third opponent of Les Bleues at the Euro on July 18, Iceland is an outsider in a group D where Italy and Belgium are added. Composed of very experienced players and young nuggets, the Nordic selection could create a surprise.
The women’s team has participated in the Euro four times, with the best result being a quarter-final in 1995 and 2013. Surprisingly, but true, they participated in this competition before France (1995 for Iceland against 1997 for France)!
An interesting fact to know, among the 23 selected during the last gathering, six have at least one child. In addition, the former OL player, Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir, recently presented a documentary entitled “Do both” (do both) retracing her journey between high-level sport and motherhood. An inspiring example for her teammates as well as young Icelandic girls.
It’s time to move on to the XI which should start the euro !
A 35-year-old experienced goalkeeper, Sandra Sigurðardóttir may be participating in her last Euro and wants to go out the front door. She currently has 41 selections for the national team.
She began her career at Þór/KA/KS and later moved to Stjarnan. In 2011, she left her country for Sweden where she joined Jitex. An experience that will not go as planned, since it will only make seven appearances in one year. Since 2016, she has been the guardian of Valur Reykjavik.
This season she has been up against young Bayern Münich goalkeeper Cecilía Rán Rúnarsdóttir (2003) but is expected to hold her own in goal due to her experience coupled with Rúnarsdóttir returning from injury.
Hallbera Gisladóttir is one of the leaders of this team from the top of her 125 selections! His club career can be summed up as a round trip between two countries: Iceland and Sweden. The irreplaceable left-back has played for two clubs in Iceland and four in Sweden.
After having helped AIK Solna to maintain itself last season, it now evolves under the colors of IFK Kalmar, promoted to Damallsvenskan (Swedish D1) this season. She too is surely participating in her last Euro and will be keen to give everything for her country.
The Rosengard player competes with Ingibjörg Sigurðardóttir for the position of left centre-back, alongside Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir. But it is indeed Guðrún Arnardóttir who has recently been established in the national team. She has 16 caps for the national team.
After a remarkable debut at 16, she spent three seasons in Djurgardens, Sweden, between 2019 and 2021. Unbeaten with Rosengard in Damallsvenskan this season, Arnardóttir went on to start. She should arrive in confidence for what will be her first Euro, at 26 years old.
Unstoppable in his position, Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir will celebrate his hundredth selection during the preparation match against Poland. At only 26 years old, the Bayern defender will already be participating in her third Euro!
If her pivotal teammates have changed regularly lately, she has established herself as the patroness of the Icelandic defense and her career speaks for her.
The player trained in Stjarnan, Iceland, has 28 matches in the Champions League. She achieves this performance with four different clubs for the moment.
Sif Atladóttir has football in his genes. His father, Atli Eðvaldsson has 70 caps for the national team and notably played for Borussia Dortmund.
His grandfather, Evald Mikson, also an ex-footballer, has seven selections for the national team… of Estonia! He had to leave his country to join Iceland during the Second World War.
Atladóttir, who gave birth to two children during her career, wants to offer herself a last last stand at 36 years old for what will surely be her last international competition. She now plays in the country, in Selfoss.
Her place in midfield is not assured as she replaced captain Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir during her pregnancy. But Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir did much more than act as interim.
At only 20 years old, the Bayern Münich player managed to win alongside the experienced Dagný Brynjarsdóttir and Gunnhildur Yrsa Jónsdóttir.
Although put in competition in Germany, she manages to pull out of the game and can notably count on Viggósdóttir who brings her experience in club as in selection. Vilhjálmsdóttir played in Breiðablik under the orders of his father before flying to Munich!
If Dagný Brynjarsdóttir wears number 10 in selection, it is not for nothing. She sets the tempo in the midfield and initiates actions. The midfielder who plays in the English Super League (first division) fulfills her childhood dream by wearing the colors of West Ham.
A fulfilled player having her son near the pitch, Brynjarsdóttir will celebrate her 100th cap against Poland on June 29. She is the top scorer in activity with 34 goals for Iceland. Number 10 is one of the few active Icelanders to have played in the United States, with Portland Thorns.
Captain of Iceland in Gunnarsdóttir’s absence, Gunnhildur Yrsa Jónsdóttir guided his country through the World Cup qualifying campaign. It has been a success so far since Iceland is one point ahead of the Dutch, the reigning vice-world champions.
But in addition to his natural leadership and his position as a defensive midfielder, Jónsdóttir has twelve goals in the selection.
Defending the colors of Orlando Pride, she is one of the only players to play in the USA. There is no doubt that she will be able to pass on all her experience to her teammates.
Svava Rós Guðmundsdóttir seems best placed if Agla María Albertsdóttir were to give up the Euro, she who was injured with BK Häcken a few days ago. Guðmundsdóttir usually placed in the axis was tested on the left wing in selection with very promising results.
The Brann striker found her way back to the nets in Norway and with that, her confidence. The 26-year-old failed to win at Bordeaux and only went seven games without scoring. Lined up with her teammate from Brann, Þorvaldsdóttir, she could cause some good chances.
Berglind Björg Þorvaldsdóttir was able to find his place in the selection and it was not easy. The Brann striker had to succeed legend Margrét Lára Viðarsdóttir, who scored 79 goals with the Icelandic women’s team.
Then, she faced competition from Elín Metta Jensen. And even if the latter is more effective with the Vikings, Þorvaldsdóttir (30) has taken over the hierarchy.
His experiences abroad may have something to do with it. She went through Hellas Verona, PSV, AC Milan, Le Havre, Hammarby and Brann. At the same time, Jensen (27) has been going through seasons at Valur Reykjavik since he was 15 years old.
The dynamite of this team, the one that will set fire to the opposing defenses! Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir is coming off an excellent season. In eight league games for Wolfsburg since joining this winter, she has scored three times and provided three assists.
But that doesn’t surprise anyone among women’s football specialists. She was named one of the ten most promising players of the 2001 generation. In six months with the wolves, Jónsdóttir won a Bundesliga, a German Cup and participated in a Champions League semi-final!
Without skipping steps, she managed to get to the top. At 21, she has six goals in 16 caps and will be the player to follow during this Euro.