Iceland seek to qualify in style
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Article summary
Iceland coach Sigurdur Ragnar Eyjólfsson is going for victory as his side visit France on Saturday knowing that a point in La Roche-sur-Yon would secure their place at UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™ in Finland.
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Winning aim
Eyjólfsson's side lead France on head-to-head record in Group 3 thanks to their 1-0 defeat of Les Bleues in Reykjavik last year meaning only a defeat in La Roche-sur-Yon would leave Iceland needing to go through the play-offs, in which they lost to Norway four years ago to miss out on the last finals. Midfielder Gréta Mjöll Samúelsdóttir is injured so Harpa Thorsteinsdóttir takes her place while Eyjólfsson has also included goalkeeper María Björg Ágústsdóttir as back-up to Thóra Björg Helgadóttir rather than Sandra Sigurdardóttir Stjarnan, though they key player is as always Margrét Lára Vidarsdóttir, scorer of the only goal conceded by France in qualifying among a competition-leading tally of eleven. Eyjólfsson said: "My personal feeling is we will win this game. It will though not be easy and there is a lot to do in order to reach that goal but we are working on it."
Iceland squad
Goalkeepers: María Björg Ágústsdóttir (KR Reykjavík), Thóra Björg Helgadóttir (RSC Anderlecht).
Defenders: Katrín Jónsdóttir (Valur Reykjavík), Gudrún Sóley Gunnarsdóttir (KR Reykjavík), Ásta Árnadóttir (Valur Reykjavík), Ólína Gudbjörg Vidarsdóttir (KR Reykjavík), Embla Sigrídur Grétarsdóttir (KR Reykjavík), Sif Atladóttir (Valur Reykjavík).
Midfielder: Edda Gardarsdóttir (KR Reykjavík), Dóra Stefánsdóttir (LDB FC Malmö), Katrín Ómarsdóttir (KR Reykjavík), Erla Steina Arnardóttir (Kristianstad DFF), Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir (Breidablik), Harpa Thorsteinsdóttir (Breidablik).
Forwards: Margrét Lára Vidarsdóttir (Valur Reykjavík), Dóra María Lárusdóttir (Valur Reykjavík), Rakel Hönnudóttir (Thór Akureyri), Hólmfrídur Magnúsdóttir (KR Reykjavík).
