Atlantica - Iceland Review

y John Boyce
Iceland’s Golden Boots
Icelandic footballers abroad
As the curtain went down on the 19th World
Cup final, the competition was declared
the most expensive and most lucrative
ever. South Africa hosted nations from the four
corners of the globe. Iceland, unfortunately, was
not among them. As a sporting nation in the
international arena, Iceland has always had to play
against the odds. With a population not much
bigger than the London borough of Wandsworth,
the pool of available talent is inevitably very small.
Nonetheless, this feisty Nordic nation has produced
many fine sporting figures, particularly in
the realm of soccer.
Iceland has an impressive array of native footballers
plying a lucrative trade on the European
continent, most notably in England. Yet despite
the availability of decent talent and creditable performances
in qualifying rounds, Iceland has never
really come close to qualifying for a major competition.
This may all be about to change in the not
too distant future according to Morgunbladid journalist
and all round footy nerd, Kjartan Kjartansson.
An enthusiastic football blogger, Kjartansson also
writes for the football website Sammarinn.is, dedicated
to thought-provoking articles on Icelandic
and international football. For the lowdown on
Iceland’s international prospects, native soccer
players abroad and more, I decided to pick his
brain between blogs.
John Boyce: “You have been quoted as saying that
Iceland’s prospects in international competition may
have become considerably brighter, how is this possible?
Kjartan Kjartansson: Even with our current
crop of players, qualification for the world cup
is well nigh impossible. It would require both an
incredibly exceptional generation of players and
a great campaign to even reach the playoffs. The
European Championships, however, is another
matter. UEFA have recently expanded the competition
to 24 teams from 2016 onwards which
effectively means that half of the member nations
will play in the final tournament. With a decent
performance in the qualifying stages, and the
squad playing to its potential, Iceland has a very
real chance of making it to the European finals,
the qualifying rounds of which begin in the fall.
JB: Iceland has had some memorable giant killing
moments in the last decade or so. What, in your
opinion, has been the most impressive performance
by an Icelandic national team to date?
KK: Well, I don’t think you would find too much
disagreement on this point, certainly in terms
of the result. It would have to be the 1-1 draw
against France in 1998 just after they had been
crowned World Champions. The score line, quite
stunning on the face of it, was a mixture of two
things I think: an exceptionally determined performance
by the Icelandic side and complacency
on the part of France. I well remember some of
the French team giggling as the national anthems
were being played. In hindsight a moment I’m
sure they regret! Iceland’s draw against eventual
winners Spain in the qualifiers for Euro 2008
would also have to be a contender, especially in
retrospect, considering the run the Spanish team
has had.
JB: Many of the current established Icelandic internationals
are approaching the end of their careers,
players like Eidur Smári Gudjohnsen and Hermann
Hreidarsson. Of the younger, up and coming players
hoping to continue the successful record of Icelandic
players abroad, who has impressed you most?
KK: I would have to plum for Gylfi Thór Sigurdsson.
He had a very impressive trajectory with Reading
where he performed admirably in quite adverse
circumstances. He scored 20 goals in all competitions
and was voted player of the season. He is very
cool headed for one so young and is an expert set
piece taker. He definitely looks set to establish
himself at his new club Hoffenheim in Germany
and has already started scoring some goals. He
has all the opportunities to go on to even greater
things in the future and I can see him becoming
the heir to Rúnar Kristinsson in the national team
as the midfield lynchpin.
JB: And finally. Who, in your book, is worthy of the
title of greatest Icelandic International to date?
KK: Iceland has produced some cracking, top
class players over the last 50 years, like Ásgeir
Sigurvinsson and Arnór Gudjohnsen certainly
come to mind, but at the end of the day, it’s hard
to overlook Eidur Smári Gudjohnsson. He is the
outstanding player of his generation with a technique
that’s beyond any of his team-mates in the
national team. On the minus side, there is a feeling
that he could have done more, particularly for the
national team. His commitment has sometimes
been an issue. The legendary Gudni Bergsson
would also be there, a fantastic professional and
a legendary captain at Bolton. It’s a shame that a
silly disagreement and the stubbornness of the
national coach kept him out of the national side
during his best years.”
Whoever one might choose for the accolade
of Iceland’s greatest footballers, what remains
beyond doubt is the impressive contribution that
Icelandic professionals have made abroad.
(Continues on pg. 26) »
Photos on this spread by Sigurjón Ragnar / SR Photos
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