Sverrisson makes his Iceland cut

Nine members of the senior Iceland squad to face Denmark on 4 June have been picked in the 23 for their UEFA European Under-21 Championship finals debut, starting a week later on Danish soil.

Defender Jón Gudni Fjóluson, midfielders Aron Gunnarsson, Jóhann Gudmundsson, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Gudmundur Kristjánsson, and forwards Arnór Smárason, Rúrik Gíslason, Kolbeinn Sigthórsson and Alfred Finnbogason all feature in the party for the UEFA EURO 2012 visit of Denmark to Reykjavik and will then travel to the finals.

The Iceland U21s play Belarus, Switzerland and the hosts in Group A from 11 June. Midfielder Bjarni Vidarsson is the most-capped squad member at U21 level with 24, but coach Eyjólfur Sverrisson has left out current Icelandic league top scorer Kristinn Steindórsson and defender Gudlaugur Pálsson.

"I could have chosen two 23-man squads because we have so many good players. This is a difficult choice because there are lot of boys I would like to keep in the squad," said Sverrisson, whose home-based players are in the midst of their domestic season.

"What is important is we have three days to prepare for the games in Denmark, it is important these players know each other and how our tactics works. Many other teams have a few weeks' preparations but we are not complaining. It is important to have a good first game, then the others are not any easier because we only have three games to make it."

Iceland squad
Goalkeepers: Haraldur Björnsson (Valur Reykjavík), Arnar Darri Pétursson (SønderjyskE), Óskar Pétursson (Grindavík).

Defenders: Hólmar Örn Eyjólfsson (West Ham United FC), Eggert Jónsson (Hearth of Midlothian FC), Hjörtur Valgardsson (IFK Göteborg), Skúli Jón Fridgeirsson (KR Reykjavík), Jón Gudni Fjóluson (Fram Reykjavík), Elfar Freyr Helgason (Breidablik), Thórarinn Ingi Valdimarsson (ÍBV Vestmannaeyjar).

Midfielders: Bjarni Vidarsson (KV Mechelen), Birkir Bjarnason (Viking FK), Andrés Már Jóhannesson (Fylkir), Jóhann Gudmundsson (AZ Alkmaar), Gylfi Sigurdsson (TSG Hoffenheim 1899), Gudmundur Kristjánsson (Breidablik), Aron Gunnarsson (Coventry City FC), Almarr Ormarsson (Fram Reykjavík).

Forwards: Rúrik Gíslason (Odense BK), Kolbeinn Sigthórsson (AZ Alkmaar), Alfred Finnbogason (KSC Lokeren OV), Arnór Smárason (Esjberg fB), Björn Bergmann Sigurdarson (Lillestrøm SK).