Germany target improvement against Iceland

Germany coach Silvia Neid wants the reigning champions to be more aggressive and decisive when they face Iceland in Sunday's second UEFA Women's EURO 2013 Group B encounter.

A nervy German side struggled to move out of first gear during their goalless draw with the Netherlands last Thursday, and on their return to the Växjö Arena, Neid hopes her young team will feel more settled in familiar surroundings. Siggi Eyjólfsson acknowledged his Iceland team are "underdogs", but is drawing inspiration from the Dutch having held Norway 1-1.

Siggi Eyjólfsson, Iceland coach
It's going to be tough. Germany are one of the best teams in the world, and we'll be the underdogs. But the Netherlands did well against them. I hope we can do the same, there's always a chance.

The Dutch are a source of inspiration for us. They defended well, and were dangerous on the counterattack, and perhaps unlucky not to win in the end.

Against Norway, it was our first point in finals at senior level, and it's great for morale. This squad has been known for making breakthroughs every once and a while. Hopefully we'll get our first win in the last two games.

In many games in this tournament, the teams are very well-matched. Even the best teams are struggling to score goals against lower-ranked opposition. The gap's closing all the time. Teams are fitter, better organised, and have analysed their opponents. That's also true of our players, and I hope we can get a result.

Matchday one result
Norway 1-1 Iceland (Hegland 26, Vidarsdóttir 87p)
Gunnarsdóttir, Atladóttir (Viggósdóttir 63), Gísladóttir, Magnúsdóttir, Gunnarsdóttir, Jónsdóttir, Vidarsdóttir, Lárusdóttir, Brynjarsdóttir (Ómarsdóttir 83), Fridriksdóttir (Thorsteinsdóttir 63), Hönnudóttir

• Player of the match: Sara Bjork Gunnarsdóttir

Team news
Goalkeeper Thóra Helgadóttir remains a doubt with a hamstring injury, while Eyjólfsson will make a late decision on the fitness of defender Sif Atladóttir.

Silvia Neid, Germany coach
We've analysed the game against the Netherlands and put it behind us. We weren't present in the tackles, nor determined enough in going for goal and we gave the ball away too easily. We want to change that and improve it against Iceland.

We know that Iceland are a team that can play very good football and are very physical and strong in the tackle. They're dangerous at set-pieces, and have a lot of power up front. Hólmfridur Magnúsdóttir and Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir are very good players on the left-hand side.

We will make a change in one position so that we'll have more options in the second half. I'm convinced that the players have got over their nervousness. For a young player who hasn't got so much experience, it is something different to start in a tournament, so it's normal they're nervous in an opening game.

Matchday one result
Germany 0-0 Netherlands
Angerer, Bartusiak, Maier, Krahn, Kessler (Laudehr 46), Lotzen (Leupolz 73), Marozsán, Mittag, Okoyino da Mbabi, Cramer, Goessling.

• Player of the match: Lieke Martens

Team news
Neid confirmed she would make one change to the starting XI which drew with the Netherlands, but declined to specify further. Annike Krahn, who was left with a bloodied knee after being caught by studs in the opening game, is fit.

Match fact
Germany have won all 12 previous meetings with Iceland, scoring 48 times and conceding three goals. In five competitive fixtures in the UEFA European Women's Championship, Germany have scored 19 unanswered goals.

Did you know?
After losing all three group-stage games when they made their UEFA Women's EURO debut in 2009, Iceland recorded their first-ever point at his level by drawing with Norway last Thursday.