Latest news with #ThorsteinnHalldórsson
The Guardian
06-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Switzerland keep Euro 2025 dream alive after Reuteler and Pilgrim knock out Iceland
Iceland will be leaving the party early but, after some initial wobbles, the hosts are still going strong. A quarter-final place beckons for Pia Sundhage's Switzerland after second-half goals from Géraldine Reuteler and Alayah Pilgrim finally settled a nation's nerves. Providing Sundhage's players do not stumble against Finland on Thursday in Geneva they should be on course to finish behind Norway in Group A and on course for a potential last-eight date with Italy or, more probably, Spain. Ultimately the night belonged to Switzerland and their excellent right-wing back Iman Beney in particular but Iceland almost scored inside the first minute when Ingibjörg Sigurdardóttir's half-volley struck the crossbar following her connection with a long throw. Almost immediately, a Swiss counterattack concluded with Julia Stierli shooting wide as heavy rain began lashing down on Berne. After more than a week of glorious Swiss summer sun, the heatwave seemed over and suddenly players from both sides were slipping and sliding on the pitch. From his vantage point on the edge of the technical area, Iceland's manager Thorsteinn Halldórsson was forced to keep wiping raindrops off his glasses. The veteran Sundhage is far too experienced to get wet needlessly and from her proffered vantage point sitting deep in the dugout she watched her team whip a corner in and Svenja Fölmi head goalwards. When the ball hit Glódis Viggósdóttir it flew into the back of the net and, almost everyone bar the 2,000 Iceland fans present in a near 30,000 crowd at a packed Stadion Wankdforf celebrated wildly. Or at least until VAR intervened to correctly disallow that effort for a foul in the preamble, namely Fölmi's overly aggressive block on Viggósdóttir. By now things had turned thoroughly niggly and scrappy. Far too many cheap concessions of possessions, snide fouls, substandard set pieces and disappointing final balls dictated the match failed to fulfil its early potential. Admittedly Barcelona's Sydney Schertenleib had the crowd on the edge of their seats whenever she ran at Iceland's back line but her final decision persistently let the exciting 18-year-old down. Although another 18-year-old, Manchester City's impressive Beney went close from distance at the end of the first half and it was becoming increasingly apparent that the game's very real intensity was no substitute for the absence of quality. Perhaps attempting to raise the tone, Karólina Vilhjálmsdóttir grazed the top of the crossbar with a 20-yard free-kick at the start of the second half. It was the second time the woodwork had saved Switzerland and seemed to inspire Beney to step up her attacking efforts. Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion Indeed Beney probably represented Sundhage's biggest goal threat, something she emphasised when directing a looping header fractionally wide as Switzerland assumed increasing dominance. Possession can, of course, be overrated, and, refusing to fold, Iceland continued to attempt to undo the tournament hosts on the counterattack, with those long throws a persistent source of hope. It faded considerably in the 74th minute when Schertenleib emphasised her potential by cueing up a perfectly poised Reuteler to unleash up for a beautifully weighted low shot that would condemn Iceland to an earlier than hoped flight back to Reykjavik. What a moment for the increasingly influential Reuteler to advance from her deep-sitting midfield role and create the platform for a swashbuckling Swiss finale, crowned by substitute Pilgrim's fabulous 90th minute finish from just outside the area following the interception of an Icelandic throw.
The Guardian
02-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Iceland v Finland: Women's Euro 2025 opener
Update: Date: 2025-07-02T14:55:03.000Z Title: Group A: Iceland v Finland Content: Iceland and Finland are the first of the 16 teams participating in this summer's Euros to get a run out and while neither side is fancied to go too deep into the competition, a win at the Arena Thun this evening will get either off to a flyer. Thorsteinn Halldórsson's Iceland side go into this game as favourites against a Finland team managed by Marko Saloranta and who are the lowest ranked team in a group also containing Norway and the hosts, Switzerland. Finland qualified for this tournamnet via the playoffs, seeing off Montenegro and Scotland in the process, while Iceland qualified in second place in their group behind Germany, winning four and drawing one of their six qualifiers. They are ranked 14th in the world, compared to Finland's 26th. Kick-off in Thun is at 5pm (BST) but stay tuned in the meantime for team news and build-up.
The Guardian
23-06-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Women's Euro 2025 team guides: Iceland
This article is part of the Guardian's Euro 2025 Experts' Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 16 countries who qualified. is running previews from two teams each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 2 July. Iceland were one of the first teams to qualify for the Euros after some convincing performances during qualifying. They may have finished two points behind Germany but they beat Christian Wück's side 3-0 in Reykjavík. They finished above Austria and Poland by picking up four crucial points in May and June 2024. The team's success has been built upon a strong defensive organisation, with the captain Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir a natural leader. Add to that a fast counterattacking style where the pacy Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir is a constant threat to opposing defences. Jónsdóttir contributes to attacks in other ways too: her long-throw in is a real weapon for this team and they are a huge threat at set pieces. Bayern Munich's Viggósdóttir is a key player. She struggled with a knee injury in the final months of the Bundesliga season – and missed Iceland's two games in April – but returned to action in May. Other injuries, however, have made the buildup to the tournament difficult for the head coach, Thorsteinn Halldórsson. The midfielder Selma Sól Magnúsdóttir and the striker Bryndís Níelsdóttir as well as Emilía Kiær Ásgeirsdóttir will miss the Euros while there were fitness doubts over two other attacking players – Diljá Zomers and Amanda Andradóttir – but they made the squad. Iceland's main concern is trying to find a way to turn tightly contested games into victories. After the successful qualifying campaign and seven wins in 10 games in 2023-24, they have gone 10 matches without a win before the friendly against Switzerland on 27 June. To put that in perspective, there were five draws in those games – including four against Euro 2025 group opponents Norway and Switzerland – and the defeats came against high-calibre opponents in USA (twice), France (twice) and Denmark. But still, draws won't be enough in Switzerland. Thorsteinn Halldórsson, or 'Steini' as he is commonly known, took over as national coach in January 2021. Known and appreciated as a man of few words and simple and straightforward messages to his players, Halldórsson has reshaped a team that drew all their matches at the 2022 Euros in England. He shook off media criticism after some mediocre performances by qualifying for the 2025 Euros in style. The 57-year-old is a former defensive midfield workhorse in the Iceland top flight and got the job after a successful period with Breidablik's women's team. During his spell in charge (2015-2020) the Kopavogur team won the league title three times and the cup twice. Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir, centre-half and captain of Iceland and German champions Bayern Munich, has hardly put a foot wrong or missed a game with the Icelandic team since the 2013 Euros, where she made her debut as a promising 18-year-old. She was voted Iceland's sportsperson of the year in 2024 by the Icelandic Sports Journalists' Association and this will be her fourth Euros. In 2024, Viggósdóttir was the first Icelandic football player, male or female, to be nominated for the Ballon d'Or. She finished 22nd, with no other centre-half above her. Cecilía Rán Rúnarsdóttir is Iceland's tallest player at the Euros and their No 1 goalkeeper. She will celebrate her 22nd birthday during the tournament, yet already has eight years behind her as a senior goalkeeper. After a year out of football because of injury she was voted Italy's Serie A best keeper in 2024-25 after a loan spell at Inter and has returned to the national team full of confidence. Her agility and shot-stopping has given the team a big boost before the Euros. Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion The Icelandic Premier League is a semi-professional league with 10 clubs. The league has been rated between 12th and 15th best in Europe for some time, providing Iceland with two places in the Women's Champions League qualifying in recent years. Attendances are low, around 150 per match – compared with around 1,000 at men's top-flight matches – but media coverage is decent with all matches shown on TV and a good presence in print and online. Around half a dozen players in the Euros squad play at home in Iceland with two of the best being Sandra Jessen and Agla María Albertsdóttir. There are quite a lot of Americans playing in the Icelandic Premier League as they see it as a good stepping stone for a future professional career in mainland Europe. Iceland will go all out to win their group. Norway will be a tricky opponent but there is a feeling they should finish above the hosts and Finland. The Iceland team guide was written by Víðir Sigurðsson for Morgunbladid
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Euro 2025: Iceland team guide – tactical coaching and Champions League experience give an edge
Iceland's women's national team has been a regular at the European Championship since 2009. Their best finish was a successful quarter-final run in 2013. In its most recent showing at Euro 2022 in England, Iceland failed to make it out of the group after drawing all three games. Despite also not qualifying for the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, they still rank 14th in the world as of June. The (Our Girls) are entering the Euros in Group A with Norway, Finland and Switzerland. Who is the manager? Thorsteinn Halldórsson has been in charge of the Iceland national team since 2021. The team extended the 57-year-old's contract through 2026, with clauses involving the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil. Advertisement Halldórsson is experienced in domestic Icelandic men's and women's soccer leagues, having coached a variety of local clubs since 1994 before taking the national team job. He won the Icelandic Championship three times with Breidablik women's team and took the side to the last 16 of the Champions League in 2019. In Euro 2025 qualifying, his Iceland side defeated Germany (3-0) and Poland (3-0), and he is a tactical coach with an emphasis on mental resilience and structure. Before he started coaching, he made more than 150 appearances as a defender in Iceland's top flight. How do they play? Halldórsson typically lines up in a 4-3-3 that suits Iceland's direct, pragmatic style. Long balls through the middle allow their midfield trio to converge, win possession and reset the attack. In the final third, they rely on wide players to deliver cutbacks or crosses aimed at late-arriving runners just inside the box. Advertisement Their long throw-ins are a weapon, disruptive, hard to defend, and often unexpected. It's a safety-first setup: even in transition, they wait for support before committing forward. It's simple but can be effective with a squad that includes Champions League-level talent. They've struggled to score recently, including five scoreless matches in the last eight. Who are their three most influential players? Iceland's captain, Glódís Viggósdóttir, earned her first career trophy two years ago, winning the 2022-23 Frauen Bundesliga with Bayern Munich. The centre-back has since won two more league titles with the German club. She also made history as the first Icelandic player to be nominated for the Ballon d'Or Féminin. Forward Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir, who signed with NWSL's Angel City FC last month through 2027, is another key player. The 23-year-old was previously with Wolfsburg in Germany, where she scored 22 goals and recorded 16 assists in 93 competitions over four seasons. Wolfsburg were Champions League finalists in 2023, falling to Barcelona 3-2. Advertisement Another player to watch out for is Dagný Brynjarsdóttir, who is an experienced midfielder with more than 100 caps. Ever-present and gutsy, she helped Iceland into the Euro 2013 quarter-finals while nursing a broken foot. What is their biggest strength? Iceland's defense is compact, physical, and aerially dominant, both in open play and set pieces. However, they have only kept three clean sheets in their last 10 matches. At the same time, their counterattack, fueled by midfield grit, is capable of winning turnovers and scoring quick opportunities, as they showed against Germany in the qualifiers. What weakness might other teams be able to exploit? Iceland relies heavily on playing direct. When opponents control the midfield, press high and cut off those vertical routes, Iceland struggles to progress the ball or retain meaningful possession. They can be pinned back, forced into deeper positions and cut off from creative outlets. Advertisement If anything, over-reliance on Brynjarsdóttir for durability could be a concern late in the tournament. She's crucial for leadership and box-to-box play, but she's 32 years old with a heavy cap load. If she fades or is marked out, Iceland's spine weakens significantly. Any notable absentees? No major injuries have been reported recently and the squad that featured in the May/June 2025 Nations League is expected to arrive in Switzerland at full strength. What is their strongest starting XI? How have they performed over the past 12 months? Iceland beat Poland (3‑0) and Germany (3‑0) in Euro 2025 qualifying, but drew 1‑1 in key away matches. They battled through a 0‑0 draw with Switzerland and Norway in the Nations League and lost 3-1 twice in two friendlies with the U.S. last October. Their friendly against France was a close one, but they did not close the gap and lost 3-2. What are they expected to achieve at these Euros? Iceland are in Group A with Switzerland, Finland, and Norway. They are the highest-rated team, but will face hosts Switzerland and their Scandinavian neighbors Norway, who have more standout pieces. Finland may be their best chance. A win over Finland seems likely, a draw with Norway is realistic, and aiming for an upset over Switzerland is possible. Advertisement If everything goes according to plan, they could easily reach the quarter-finals. Unlike the team in 2022 (0 points, 3 draws), they have a stronger squad. They just need composure in tight finishes. Did you know? This marks Iceland's fifth consecutive appearance at the Euros, a testament to their consistency in continental play. In qualifying, they made history as the first team to defeat Germany by a three-goal margin in a competitive match since Brazil's 2008 Olympic semifinal triumph. Despite their progress, Iceland has never qualified for a Women's World Cup. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Iceland, UK Women's Football, Women's Euros 2025 The Athletic Media Company
New York Times
22-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Euro 2025: Iceland team guide – tactical coaching and Champions League experience give an edge
Iceland's women's national team has been a regular at the European Championship since 2009. Their best finish was a successful quarter-final run in 2013. In its most recent showing at Euro 2022 in England, Iceland failed to make it out of the group after drawing all three games. Despite also not qualifying for the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, they still rank 14th in the world as of June. The Stelpurnar okkar (Our Girls) are entering the Euros in Group A with Norway, Finland and Switzerland. Thorsteinn Halldórsson has been in charge of the Iceland national team since 2021. The team extended the 57-year-old's contract through 2026, with clauses involving the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil. Halldórsson is experienced in domestic Icelandic men's and women's soccer leagues, having coached a variety of local clubs since 1994 before taking the national team job. He won the Icelandic Championship three times with Breidablik women's team and took the side to the last 16 of the Champions League in 2019. In Euro 2025 qualifying, his Iceland side defeated Germany (3-0) and Poland (3-0), and he is a tactical coach with an emphasis on mental resilience and structure. Before he started coaching, he made more than 150 appearances as a defender in Iceland's top flight. Halldórsson typically lines up in a 4-3-3 that suits Iceland's direct, pragmatic style. Long balls through the middle allow their midfield trio to converge, win possession and reset the attack. In the final third, they rely on wide players to deliver cutbacks or crosses aimed at late-arriving runners just inside the box. Advertisement Their long throw-ins are a weapon, disruptive, hard to defend, and often unexpected. It's a safety-first setup: even in transition, they wait for support before committing forward. It's simple but can be effective with a squad that includes Champions League-level talent. They've struggled to score recently, including five scoreless matches in the last eight. Iceland's captain, Glódís Viggósdóttir, earned her first career trophy two years ago, winning the 2022-23 Frauen Bundesliga with Bayern Munich. The centre-back has since won two more league titles with the German club. She also made history as the first Icelandic player to be nominated for the Ballon d'Or Féminin. Forward Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir, who signed with NWSL's Angel City FC last month through 2027, is another key player. The 23-year-old was previously with Wolfsburg in Germany, where she scored 22 goals and recorded 16 assists in 93 competitions over four seasons. Wolfsburg were Champions League finalists in 2023, falling to Barcelona 3-2. Another player to watch out for is Dagný Brynjarsdóttir, who is an experienced midfielder with more than 100 caps. Ever-present and gutsy, she helped Iceland into the Euro 2013 quarter-finals while nursing a broken foot. Iceland's defense is compact, physical, and aerially dominant, both in open play and set pieces. However, they have only kept three clean sheets in their last 10 matches. At the same time, their counterattack, fueled by midfield grit, is capable of winning turnovers and scoring quick opportunities, as they showed against Germany in the qualifiers. Iceland relies heavily on playing direct. When opponents control the midfield, press high and cut off those vertical routes, Iceland struggles to progress the ball or retain meaningful possession. They can be pinned back, forced into deeper positions and cut off from creative outlets. If anything, over-reliance on Brynjarsdóttir for durability could be a concern late in the tournament. She's crucial for leadership and box-to-box play, but she's 32 years old with a heavy cap load. If she fades or is marked out, Iceland's spine weakens significantly. No major injuries have been reported recently and the squad that featured in the May/June 2025 Nations League is expected to arrive in Switzerland at full strength. Iceland beat Poland (3‑0) and Germany (3‑0) in Euro 2025 qualifying, but drew 1‑1 in key away matches. They battled through a 0‑0 draw with Switzerland and Norway in the Nations League and lost 3-1 twice in two friendlies with the U.S. last October. Their friendly against France was a close one, but they did not close the gap and lost 3-2. Iceland are in Group A with Switzerland, Finland, and Norway. They are the highest-rated team, but will face hosts Switzerland and their Scandinavian neighbors Norway, who have more standout pieces. Finland may be their best chance. A win over Finland seems likely, a draw with Norway is realistic, and aiming for an upset over Switzerland is possible. If everything goes according to plan, they could easily reach the quarter-finals. Unlike the team in 2022 (0 points, 3 draws), they have a stronger squad. They just need composure in tight finishes. This marks Iceland's fifth consecutive appearance at the Euros, a testament to their consistency in continental play. In qualifying, they made history as the first team to defeat Germany by a three-goal margin in a competitive match since Brazil's 2008 Olympic semifinal triumph. Despite their progress, Iceland has never qualified for a Women's World Cup.
