Latest news with #IcelandFootball
CNA
03-07-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Iceland's Viggosdottir forced off in Euro opener due to stomach troubles
Iceland captain Glodis Perla Viggosdottir was forced off at halftime during their Women's European Championship opener against Finland on Wednesday due to diarrhoea. After 20 minutes, the Bayern Munich defender had to lie down for treatment, with teammates forming a protective circle around her as she struggled through much of the first half. "I just had diarrhoea," she told Icelandic media Visir when asked about what happened. "We tried everything to get it under control, but clearly, we didn't succeed." Finland won the Group A match 1-0 against 10-player Iceland in Thun, Switzerland.
New York Times
02-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Iceland captain Glodis Viggosdottir forced off at half time of Euro 2025 opener with illness
Iceland captain Glodis Viggosdottir was forced off at half time during Thursday's 2025 European Championship group stage opener against Finland due to illness. Viggosdottir, 30, twice received treatment on the field during the first half at the Stockhorn Arena in Bern, with her team-mates surrounding her in a protective huddle. Advertisement The Bayern Munich defender completed the opening 45 minutes of her side's defeat but did not return for the second half and was replaced by Saedis Run Heioarsdottir. However, she confirmed at full time this was due to a stomach illness and not injury. 'I've had it for a few days,' Viggosdottir told 'We thought it was over. I hope it's going to go down in the next few days.' Viggosdottir, the first Icelandic player to be nominated for the Ballon d'Or Feminin, is among Iceland's most high profile players and is expected to play a key role in their Euro 2025 campaign. Iceland were beaten 1-0 by Finland, with winger Katariina Kosola scoring the game's only goal in the 70th minute. Iceland had been reduced to 10 players shortly before the hour mark after midfielder Hildur Antonsdottir was sent off for a second bookable offence. 'It's incredibly disappointing,' Viggosdottir added. 'We came here to win and go away with zero points. 'There's nothing we can do about this game – we ended up in a difficult situation with a player down and conceded shortly afterwards, but we came back and the girls did incredibly well.' The result marked a first major tournament victory since Euro 2009 for Finland — when the country hosted the tournament. They have since suffered group stage exits in 2013 and 2022, and have never qualified for the World Cup. 'Iceland are a fantastic team and good from set pieces, so I'm very satisfied with us defending those very well,' manager Marko Saloranta said. 'The last ten or 15 minutes were not that satisfying — we made the victory a little bit nervy because we were so cautious. That's not the way we want to end the game. 'We have two games left; we haven't gone through but, with only three games in the group, a victory in the first game is a big step towards the knockout stage.' Iceland return to action against hosts Switzerland on Sunday, while Finland play Norway.
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
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
How to watch Northern Ireland vs Iceland: TV channel and live stream for friendly today
Michael O'Neill's Northern Ireland are back in action tonight as they welcome Iceland to Windsor Park (Getty Images) Northern Ireland will hope to avoid a third consecutive loss when they host Iceland in an international friendly tonight. The Green and White army have stumbled of late. Following a successful Nations League campaign where they topped a group to earn promotion to League B, they are now without a win in four games. Advertisement Last Friday's loss to Denmark made it back-to-back defeats, though Michael O'Neill's side can perhaps take confidence from a five match unbeaten run at home as they welcome Iceland to Windsor Park. Speaking of the visitors, they will arrive in Belfast in confident mood after beating Scotland at Hampden Park three days ago to end a run of three straight losses. Both nations will use this evening as preparation for their World Cup qualification campaigns that get underway later in the year, with Northern Ireland facing Luxembourg and Germany in a September double-header. A first meeting between these two nations for nearly 20 years, here is everything you need to know about how to watch the match tonight... Where to watch Northern Ireland vs Iceland TV channel: In the UK, the game is being shown live and free-to-air on the BBC. Coverage starts at 7.30pm BST on BBC Two Northern Ireland ahead of a 7.45pm kick-off. Live stream: Viewers can also watch the action live online via BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport Website which are free with a registration.
