Sverrisson selects experienced Iceland party

Iceland coach Eyjólfur Sverrisson has included four uncapped players in what is otherwise an experienced 40-man provisional squad for next month's UEFA European Under-21 Championship finals in Denmark.

Einar Einarsson, Arnar Geirsson, Halldór Halldórsson and Haukur Baldvinsson − all of whom are home based − feature in a party which boasts a combined total of 94 caps for the senior team. Coventry City FC midfielder Aron Gunnarsson is the most experienced with 22 appearances, three of which have come in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying.

About the squad, Sverrisson said: "We have a lot of promising players to choose from. There is a lot of talent in Icelandic football and this group of 40 clearly shows how strong players are becoming, much more so than a few years ago. I see a great future for some of them."

Such is the wealth of talent at his disposal, that Sverrisson says the four new inclusions represent just the tip of the iceberg: "We have been watching them for a while but we could have picked out many more who came close."

Iceland kick-off the finals on 11 June when they play Group A rivals Belarus in Aarhus, before games against Switzerland and the hosts.

Provisional Iceland squad
Goalkeepers: Arnar Darri Pétursson (SønderjyskE), Haraldur Björnsson (Valur Reykjavík), Ingvar Jónsson (Stjarnan), Óskar Pétursson (Grindavík), Ögmundur Kristinsson (Fram Reykjavík).

Defenders: Hjörtur Valgardsson (IFK Göteborg), Hólmar Eyjólfsson (West Ham United FC), Elfar Freyr Helgason (Breidablik), Finnur Margeirsson (Breidablik), Gudmundur Gunnarsson (KR Reykjavík), Jón Gudni Fjóluson (Fram Reykjavík), Jósef Kristinn Jósefsson (PFC Chernomorets Burgas), Skúli Jón Fridgeirsson (KR Reykjavík), Einar Einarsson (Keflavík), Jóhann Laxdal (Stjarnan), Kristinn Jónsson (Breidablik), Eidur Aron Sigurbjörnsson (ÍBV Vestmannaeyjar).

Midfielders: Aron Gunnarsson (Coventry City FC), Andrés Már Jóhannesson (Fylkir), Rúrik Gíslason (Odense BK), Arnór Smárason (Esbjerg fB), Jóhann Gudmundsson (AZ Alkmaar), Bjarni Vidarsson (KV Mechelen), Birkir Bjarnason (Viking FK), Gudmundur Kristjánsson (Breidablik), Gylfi Sigurdsson (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim), Eggert Jónsson (Heart of Midlothian FC), Almarr Ormarsson (Fram Reykjavík), Gudlaugur Pálsson (Hibernian FC), Björn Sverrisson (FH Hafnarfjördur), Arnar Geirsson (Valur Reykjavík), Aron Jóhannsson (AGF Århus), Halldór Kristinn Halldórsson (Valur Reykjavík), Haukur Baldvinsson (Breidablik).

Forwards: Alfred Finnbogason (KSC Lokeren OV), Kolbeinn Sigthórsson (AZ Alkmaar), Kristinn Steindórsson (Breidablik), Björn Bergmann Sigurdarson (Lilleström SK), Arnar Már Björgvinsson (Breidablik), Thórarinn Ingi Valdimarsson (ÍBV Vestmannaeyjar).