After their brilliant run to the Euro 2016 quarter-finals, and that victory over England, few people expected Iceland to top those achievements. But lo and behold, this tiny nation of roughly 334,000 have defied expectations yet again, managing to qualify automatically for the FIFA World Cup 2018, becoming the smallest nation to ever do so. Iceland topped a tricky group, finishing ahead of Croatia, Ukraine and Turkey, and even managed to score the most goals of any team in their group (17).
The island nation have been drawn in arguably the toughest group at Russia 2018, featuring Argentina, Nigeria and Croatia. Teams will no longer be underestimating Iceland though, and they could cause a surprise or two at the World Cup.
The Squad
Coach: Heimir Hallgrimsson
The Iceland manager is no longer an unknown identity, having become especially famous for being a practising dentist as well as football coach. Hallgrimsson took over sole charge of the Iceland team after Euro 2016, having been joint manager alongside Swede Lars Lagerback prior to that. He has brought continuity and stability to the squad, while also marginally tweaking their style of play. Icelands strengths remain though; defensive solidity, lots of effort, and a direct, efficient style of play. Iceland remain fiendishly difficult to beat under Hallgrimsson, and not one of their Group D companions will look forward to playing them.
Goalkeepers
Hannes Thor Halldorsson (Randers FC), Frederik Schram (FC Roskilde), Runar Alex Runarsson (FC Nordsjaelland)
Defenders
Birkir Mar Saevarsson (Valur), Samuel Fridjonsson (Valerenga), Sverrir Ingi Ingason (FC Rostov), Ragnar Sigurdsson, (FC Rostov), Kari Arnason (Vikingur), Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson (Levski Sofia), Horour Bjorgvin Magnusson (Bristol City), Ari Freyr Skulason (Lokeren)
Midfielders
Albert Gudmundsson (PSV), Johann Berg Gudmundsson (Burnley), Birkir Bjarnason (Aston Villa), Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton), Olafur Ingi Skulason (Fylkir), Aron Gunnarsson (Cardiff City), Rurik Gislason (Sandhausen), Emil Halfredsson (Udinese), Arnor Ingvi Traustason (Malmo FF)
Forwards
Bjorn Bergman Sigurdarson (Rostov), Alfred Finnbogason (Augsburg), Jon Dadi Bodvarsson (Reading)
Tactics
Iceland have retained much of the squad that made history at Euro 2016, and consequently have more or less the same style of play as well. Iceland are not afraid to go long, eschewing playing out from the back in favour of long, angled balls into the wingers, who look to bring the strikers into play. As one of the few international sides to play with a 4-4-2 formation, their strikers are able to drag opposition centre-backs up the pitch or into wide areas, which in turn leaves space for a winger or an advancing central midfielder.
Defensively, Iceland do not press aggressively, instead preferring to retreat and form a compact, low block, making it difficult to play through them centrally. Even the strikers drop off and help to funnel the ball wide, from where it is relatively easier for the centre-backs to head away any attempted crosses.
Key Player
Gylfi Sigurdsson
This one is probably self-evident; Sigurdsson is easily the most talented player in the Iceland squad, and given the relative lack of creativity, he will quite literally be central to the countrys hopes in Russia. Sigurdssons ability to find a pass will be essential in releasing Icelands strikers beyond opponents defensive lines, while he will also help retain possession, not one of the island nations strong suits. Further, his dead-ball prowess will be crucial for a side lacking in goals. The Everton man has just returned from injury, and marked this by scoring in Icelands 2-3 defeat against Norway; his fellow countrymen will be hoping he can keep doing so at Russia, or they face an early exit from the biggest show on Earth.
