Iceland Euro 2022 team guide: key players, route to final, tournament history & more
Iceland could be one of the more fashionable teams to take an interest in at Euro 2022 this summer, with great kits, an army of loyal travelling fans and a handful of well known players.
Things will be tough for them in a wide open Group D, but never say never about causing an upset.
Here's everything you need to know about Iceland ahead of Euro 2022.
Iceland Women's Euro 2022 qualifying record
Iceland didn't win their qualifying group but were only narrowly behind Sweden, who are FIFA's highest ranked European nation ahead of this tournament.
Indeed, Iceland only dropped points against Sweden, drawing at home and losing away, but enjoyed some big wins of their own, including a 4-1 victory Hungary and scoring 15 goals without reply over their two games against minnows Latvia. But narrower margins in the reverse against Hungary and home and away against Slovakia may be cause or concern when it comes to tougher opposition.
Even though Iceland were second in their qualifying group, their points tally was enough to claim one of the three automatic places at Euro 2022 for best group runners-up, avoiding the playoffs.
Iceland Women's team tournament history
This summer is Iceland's fourth consecutive appearance at a European Championship tournament, having failed to qualify with every edition prior to 2009.
Euro 1984: Did not qualify
Euro 1987: Did not enter
Euro 1989: Did not enter
Euro 1991: Did not enter
Euro 1993: Did not qualify
Euro 1995: Did not qualify
Euro 1997: Did not qualify
Euro 2001: Did not qualify
Euro 2005: Did not qualify
Euro 2009: Group stage
Euro 2013: Quarter-finals
Euro 2017: Group stage
Iceland are yet to make it to a World Cup.
1991 World Cup: Did not enter
1995 World Cup: Did not qualify
1999 World Cup: Did not qualify
2003 World Cup: Did not qualify
2007 World Cup: Did not qualify
2011 World Cup: Did not qualify
2015 World Cup: Did not qualify
2019 World Cup: Did not qualify
Iceland Women's football team players - key player & one to watch
She may be one of the younger talents in a squad with plenty of older and more experienced names - the likes of Dagny Brynjarsdottir, Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir and Gunnhildur Yrsa Jonsdottir - but Sveindis Jane Jonsdottir really is the bright spark to get excited about for Iceland.
The forward only recently turned 21 but is the reigning Icelandic Footballer of the Year, breaking a run of six consecutive Gunnarsdottir wins. She has also started to make an impact in German club football after switching to Wolfsburg in January 2022, and shone during the latter stages of last season's Champions League with her flair and willingness to get at fullbacks.
Jonsdottir is not the only young Icelandic player based in Germany. Another talent to watch out for this summer is 20-year-old midfielder Karolina Lea Vilhjalmsdottir, who has been with Bayern Munich since 2021 - winning the 2020/21 Bundesliga title - and earlier this year extended her contract with the Bavarian club until 2025.
Iceland Women's football team manager
Thorsteinn Halldorsson was appointed Iceland coach in 2021, having previously managed in both the men's and women's game. His standout achievement has been three Icelandic titles with Breidablik women in 2015, 2018 and 2020, the club's first national triumphs since 2005.
Did you know…
Iceland take the idea of mixing youth and experience to an extreme, with the majority of players in the squad either younger than 24, or older than 30. Just six of the group are aged what might be considered in peak age range of 24-29.
Eight members of the squad are 30 or older, meaning this has the potential to be their last opportunity to play on this stage. Another nine are aged 23 or under.
Women's Euro 2022 Iceland fixtures & route to the Euro 2022 final
Belgium vs Iceland
Date & time: Sunday 10 July, 17:00 (BST)
Venue: Academy Stadium
How to watch on TV: BBC Two (UK)
Italy vs Iceland
Date & time: Thursday 14 July, 17:00 (BST)
Venue: Academy Stadium
How to watch on TV: BBC Two (UK)
Iceland vs France
Date & time: Monday 18 July, 20:00 (BST)
Venue: New York Stadium
How to watch on TV: BBC Two (UK)
With France and Italy in their group, Iceland will be up against it when attempting to qualify for the knockout stages, although it will work in their favour that they are up first against Belgium, rather than France or Italy. Victory straight off the bat could give them a chance to gain some momentum for the tougher fixtures that follow.
Iceland's best bet of reaching the knockouts, which would match their best ever tournament in 2013, is as Group D runners-up. If that is the case, they would face the winners of Group C in the quarter-finals - likely to be Sweden - and perhaps England or Spain in the semis after that.
Iceland Women's Euro 2022 squad
Goalkeepers: Sandra Sigurdardottir (Valur), Telma Ivarsdottir (Breidablik), Audur Sveinbjornsdóttir Scheving (Afturelding)
Defenders: Aslaug Munda Gunnlaugsdottir (Breidablik), Elisa Vidarsdottir (Valur), Ingibjorg Sigurdardottir (Valerenga), Gudny Arnadottir (AC Milan), Gudrun Arnardottir (Rosengard), Sif Atladottir (Selfoss), Hallbera Gudny Gisladottir (IFK Kalmar)
Midfielders: Alexandra Johannsdottir (Eintract Frankfurt), Dagny Brynjarsdottir (West Ham), Karolina Lea Vilhjalmsdottir (Bayern Munich), Selma Sol Magnusdottir (Rosenborg), Gunnhildur Yrsa Jonsdottir (Orlando Pride), Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir (Juventus), Agla Maria Albertsdottir (Hacken), Amanda Andradottir (Kristianstads)
Forwards: Svava Ros Gundmundsdottir (Brann), Berglind Bjorg Thorvaldsdottir (Brann), Elin Metta Jensen (Valur), Sveindis Jane Jonsdottir (Wolfsburg)
Predicted finish - Group stage
Iceland do have a number of good players based at top clubs throughout Europe and beating Belgium is certainly within their reach. But a lack of victories or even much practice at all against top nations isn't ideal - Japan are the only team of note they have beaten in the last 18 months and three of their victories over that time have been against an unremarkable Czech Republic.
Given that Iceland progressing beyond the group stage will likely rely on getting a result against France or Italy, the odds are stacked against them.
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