Iceland aim to make history
Friday, October 17, 2008
Article summary
Iceland coach Sigurdur Ragnar Eyjólfsson is hoping to make a bit of history after announcing the squad for the UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ play-off against the Republic of Ireland on 26 and 30 October.
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Mission statement
Although Iceland reached the two-legged 1995 quarter-finals and have qualified for youth competitions, they have never earned a place at a senior UEFA showpiece event for men or women. Aiming to change that are a squad containing the top scorer from the qualifying campaign, Margrét Lára Vidarsdóttir, but missing goalkeeper Thóra Helgadóttir through illness as well as suspended midfielder Dóra María Stefánsdóttir for the first leg in Dublin. Uncapped midfielders Fanndís Fridriksdóttir and Thórunn Helga Jónsdóttir have been called up by Eyjólfsson, who said: "It is bad Thóra is out because she was our best player against France but we have three other very good goalkeepers and I trust them all so we will see who performs the best out in training."
Full house
Eyjólfsson, whose team missed out on automatic qualification with a 2-1 loss in France last month, said: "We are aiming to be the first Icelandic A-national team to make it to the finals; that has been our mission for two years and we have a good chance so I hope the fans will come [to the second leg in Reykjavik] and support us. I'd like to fill the stadium, I think we can do it and hopefully people will have a good time."
Iceland squad
Goalkeepers: Gudbjörg Gunnarsdóttir (Valur Reykjavík), María Björg Ágústsdóttir (KR Reykjavík), Sandra Sigurdardóttir (Stjarnan).
Defenders: Katrín Jónsdóttir (Valur Reykjavík), Gudrún Sóley Gunnarsdóttir (KR Reykjavík), Ásta Árnadóttir (Valur Reykjavík), Ólína Gudbjörg Vidarsdóttir (KR Reykjavík), Málfrídur Erna Sigurdardóttir (Valur Reykjavík), Embla Sigrídur Grétarsdóttir (KR Reykjavík), Sif Atladóttir (Valur Reykjavík).
Midfielders: Edda Gardarsdóttir (KR Reykjavík), Dóra Stefánsdóttir (LDB FC Malmö), Erla Steina Arnardóttir (Kristianstad DFF), Katrín Ómarsdóttir (KR Reykjavík), Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir (Breidablik), Harpa Thorsteinsdóttir (Breidablik), Hallbera Gudný Gísladóttir (Valur Reykjavík), Fanndís Fridriksdóttir (Breidablik), Thórunn Helga Jónsdóttir (KR Reykjavík).
Forwards: Dóra María Lárusdóttir (Valur Reykjavík), Rakel Hönnudóttir (Thór Akureyri), Hólmfrídur Magnúsdóttir (KR Reykjavík), Margrét Lára Vidarsdóttir (Valur Reykjavík).
