Fastgoal.com <World Cup 2018> - Group D - Iceland Team Review

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Iceland

FIFA World Ranking: 22
Qualifying Average Goals Per Match: 1.60
Qualifying Average Goals Against Per Match: 0.70
Qualifying Top Scorer: Gylfi Sigurdsson (4)
World Cup Best Performance: First Appearance

Group D Opponents: Argentina, Croatia and Nigeria


The Manager: Heimir Hallgrímsson
The experience of the games most famous football managing dentist is solely restricted to his homeland where he has achieved excellent results in both the men’s and women’s game. Initially assistant to - and then joint manager with - Lars Lagerback, Hallgrimson took sole charge of Iceland in 2016 and has promptly led the nation to the first World Cup Final’s in their history.


The Squad:
Other than Gylfi Sigurdsson, there are no superstar names amongst the 23 men travelling to Russia. Having been together for years now though and performed above all expectations when making the quarter finals at Euro 2016, what Iceland do have is an unbeatable togetherness and team spirit.

Emil Hallfredsson of Udinese, Augsburg’s Alfred Finnbogason, Burnley’s Jóhann Berg Gudmundsson and Sigurddson are the only players to compete in a top European league at club level, with the rest of the squad predominantly drawn from the English Championship and Scandinavian Leagues.

What this squad do well though is stick to their system which plays to their strengths and has carried them so far. Expect plenty of long balls and crosses into the box in addition to Aron Gunnarsson’s jet propelled throw ins which can be as good as a free kick or corner at times.

Finnbogason and Jón Dadi Bodvarsson are the men tasked with getting on the end of things in the box, although they may find their places under threat from promising youngster Albert Gudmundsson.


Star Man: Gylfi Sigurdsson
In a squad of hard working and determined players, Everton’s £45million man Gylffi Sigurdsson stands out like a sore thumb. A high-class passer of the ball, excellent finisher and deadly from set pieces, Sigurdsson top scored for his country during qualification and is the creative force in this Icelandic side. Iceland’s population of around 340,000 breathed a collective sigh of relief when it was confirmed their talisman would recover from a knee injury in time to make the finals.


Outlook:
Iceland are always underestimated, and due to the size of the nation, lack of star names, and unattractive style, they likely always will be. They perhaps shouldn’t be the rank outsiders to qualify from this Group though, having already topped Croatia in the qualifying stages for the tournament. Whilst not flashy, they are solid throughout, united and with a very clear identity in terms of playing style. It may not be pretty to watch at times, but we fancy the Icelanders to make it through this group along with Argentina.


Group D Prediction: http://fastgoal.com/forum/index.php?topic=2467.0

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