Iceland's heroes reap their rewards

When Iceland compete at UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ in Finland next summer it will not just mean another chance for television viewers to continue to watch in record numbers, but it should also have a long-term impact on the status of the game.

TV hit
The 3-0 play-off win against the Republic of Ireland in Reykjavik at the end of October was seen by 70 per cent of the Icelandic population. They are sure to tune in again next August when their side become the first team from Iceland of either gender to play in a senior final tournament as they face three of the biggest names in women's football in Group B – France, Norway and world and European champions Germany. It was a home win against France in June 2007 that first announced Iceland as serious contenders, and several squad members have now landed professional contracts in the Swedish league.

Exodus
Two players were already based in the Damallsvenskan, LDB FC Malmö's Dóra Stefánsdóttir and fellow midfielder Erla Steina Arnardóttir at Kristianstad DFF. Arnardóttir has now been joined at Kristianstad by defender Gudný Björk Óinsdóttir and striker Hólmfrídur Magnúsdóttir, while Djurgårdens IF have signed goalkeeper Gudbjörg Gunnarsdóttir. But the highest profile move for that for Margrét Lára Vidarsdóttir.

Vidarsdóttir move
Prolific 22-year-old Vidarsdóttir was the top scorer in UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ qualifying with 12 goals and for Valur Reykjavík she has consistently registered at nearly two per game in both domestic and European competition. Linköpings FC – only just pipped to the 2008 Swedish title by the mighty Umeå IK – won the race for her signature, beating off the likes of Los Angeles Sol in the new American professional league.

Helgadóttir example
Her Valur coach Elísabet Gunnarsdóttir has also gone to Sweden to add to Kristianstad's Icelandic influence, while midfielder Edda Gardarsdóttir and defender Ólína Vidarsdóttir have been given trials by KIF Örebro. They are all following in the footsteps of Ásthildur Helgadóttir, who retired at the end of 2007 after a career which included spells in America and at Malmö, where she scored 46 goals in 58 appearances.

Benefit
Now on her hometown Kópavogur City Council and chairman of the Iceland Sport commitee at the Ministry of Education among several public positions, Helgadóttir said: "I have been saying since I went to Sweden that it is important to play abroad where you have a difficult game every week. That will only impove a player and I wish this has happened sooner but it's great it is happening now. I'm convinced things will work out. It was important to make it to the finals because the disappointment after being so close would have been huge. We're in among the best which is great bearing in mind our population is about 300,000. It will be very hard work to stay there, though."