Iceland optimistic despite Ronaldo factor

Iceland were pretty pleased with being placed alongside Portugal, Austria and Hungary in Group F, with the first-timers confident that a place in the knockout phase is not beyond their abilities.

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Heimir Hallgrímsson, Iceland co-coach
We are maybe most pleased about being one of the last teams to play. That gives us a chance to prepare and get the spirit of the finals. We will look less like newcomers because we will have seen some of the games and it will be good not to play on the first day, because of all the hype around the tournament. It is no bad thing to meet Portugal in the first game even though they are the team most expect to win the group.

Jóhann Gudmundsson, Iceland midfielder
I like this draw. Of course, there are no easy games in such a big tournament but I think we got a rather good group, so we can be optimistic and I think we a good chance. We could have got Spain, Italy or Germany, who would be harder to beat. Hopefully we can upset the teams in our group and do good things.

Vidar Kjartansson, Iceland striker
I believe we can make it through. Of course, it would have been a dream to meet England but playing against Cristiano Ronaldo – I cannot ask for more.

Gylfi Sigurdsson, Iceland midfielder
If we play like we did in most of our qualifying games, I think we have a good chance against all of these teams. It is great to meet Portugal in the first game. Of course, Ronaldo is a big factor in their team, like Arjen Robben is in the Dutch team. We cannot underestimate the Hungarian team, having seen how they played in the play-offs against Norway.

Hannes Halldórsson, Iceland goalkeeper
I am very pleased with the group. Not a glamorous one, but that does not matter. We are going to France with the aim of making it out of the group and we could have been less lucky.

Emil Hallfredsson, Iceland midfielder
I would have liked to play Italy [since he plays for Verona] but we will just have to play against them when we get through the group stage. I think Icelanders can be happy.

Jón Dadi Bödvarsson, Iceland striker
Portugal are the biggest name and it will be great to meet them in the first game. We are definitelty the underdogs in our first game and that will be fun.

Kári Árnason, Iceland defender
I do not have a good experience meeting Ronaldo [having played in Malmö's 8-0 defeat at Real Madrid]. He is damned good and unstoppable, but I have a better feeling about meeting him with Ragnar Sigurdsson by my side.