Iceland Euro 2022 group stage fixtures
Read more about Belgium, Italy & France by clicking on the team’s name.
How they qualified
Major tournament record
European Championship
Best European Championship performance: Quarter-finals- 2013.
Most-recent European Championship performance: Group Stages- 2017.
FIFA World Cup
Never previously qualified.
Iceland at Euro 2022: Will Iceland spring a surprise in Group D?
os Angeles, California, USA. 20th Feb, 2022. Natasha Anasi (19) celebrates with Ingibjörg Sigurðardóttir (6) after scoring against the Czech Republic during the She Believes Cup soccer match between the Czech Republic and the Iceland Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, in Carson, Calif. (Credit Image: © Ringo Chiu/ZUMA Press Wire)
Will Iceland add to their sole European Championship victory at this summer’s tournament in England?
This is actually the fourth consecutive Euros that Iceland have qualified for, making their major competition debut 13 years ago.
However, their only victory at this competition came against Netherlands in 2013, seeing them reach the quarter-finals, where Sweden hammered them 4-0.
Last time round, they lost all three group matches, against France, Switzerland and Denmark, so will desperately be looking to avoid a repeat.
In the ongoing World Cup qualifiers though, Þorsteinn Halldórsson’s side have been solid.
If Iceland get a result away to Netherlands in September, they’ll top their group and qualify for the first time ever.
Even if they don’t, they’ll still have a chance to reach Australia & New Zealand via the play-offs which are coming up in October.
Also, in February’s SheBelieves Cup, Iceland beat both New Zealand and Czech Republic before a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of World Champions USA.
This show that, while Halldórsson’s team are a solid outfit, they struggle to compete when facing the best international football has to offer.
At this tournament, they’ll kick off against Belgium before meetings Group D’s two favourites Italy and then France.
It would certainly be a major achievement if Iceland reached the knockout stages, with the opener against Belgium their best shot at three points.
Key players: Gunnhildur Yrsa Jónsdóttir
2F8D7WD Coverciano, Italy. 13th Apr, 2021. Gunnhildur Yrsa Jónsdóttir (#5 Iceland) during friendly match between Italy and Iceland at Enzo Bearzot Stadium in Coverciano Florence, Italy Credit: SPP Sport Press Photo. /Alamy Live News
One of the most experienced figures in this team is midfielder Gunnhildur Yrsa Jónsdóttir.
The 33 year old has accumulated 89 caps so far, featuring in all three Euro 2017 matches, starting two, on the right-wing.
Jónsdóttir also started all eight matches in qualifying for this tournament and has scored three times during World Cup 2023 qualification.
At club level, she has plied her trade in Iceland, Norway, Australia and America, first featuring in the NWSL for Utah Royals.
She then returned State-side in 2021, signing for Orlando Pride, for whom she’s played 40 times, scoring four goals.
The Pride continue to underwhelm in NWSL, but Jónsdóttir is training and playing alongside numerous world-class players every day.
Despite not being prolific in-front of goal, she remains key to Iceland’s set-up, aiming to score her first at a major tournament this summer.
Key players: Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir
2D8KDG0 Götenburg, Sweden. 27th Oct, 2020. Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir (#7) during the WEURO22 qualifier match between Sweden and Iceland at Gamla Ullevi in Götenburg Mia Eriksson/SPP Credit: SPP Sport Press Photo. /Alamy Live News
Alongside in midfield will be captain Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir who, with 138, is Iceland’s most-capped player, male of female, of all-time.
So far, the 31 has started all ten European Championship matches Iceland have ever played and is set to extend that record at this tournament.
Gunnarsdóttir does have 22 international goals to her name, although the last of these came in a brace against Slovakia on 26 November 2020.
At club level, she has won 15 major honours, doing so with Rosengård, VfL Wolfsburg and, most recently, Olympique Lyonnais.
Back in 2020, Gunnarsdóttir started as Lyon won the Champions League Final, but was an unused substitute as they beat Barcelona back in May.
In fact, having made just six appearances in all competitions this season, she’s leaving the French champions for Italian counterparts Juventus.
Despite representing some of the biggest clubs on the planet, Gunnarsdóttir has always performed best in a national team shirt.
Once again, she’ll be at the heart of this Icelandic midfielder, looking to help her country cause a shock or two.
Key players: Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir
2D8KDFY Götenburg, Sweden. 27th Oct, 2020. Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir (#23) during the WEURO22 qualifier match between Sweden and Iceland at Gamla Ullevi in Götenburg Mia Eriksson/SPP Credit: SPP Sport Press Photo. /Alamy Live News
One potential break-out star for Iceland will be Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir who will be leading the line, looking to add to her impressive scoring tally.
Aged 21, she’s won just 18 senior caps for her country, but these have yielded six goals.
This includes a brace on her debut against Latvia and the opener in a friendly victory over Asian heavyweights Japan last November.
As a result, in 2021, she was voted Icelandic Footballer of the Year, the first winner who isn’t Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir since 2014.
A few months earlier, Jónsdóttir had joined Germany giants VfL Wolfsburg, eventually making her Frauen-Bundesliga debut as recently as January.
In just eight Bundesliga appearances, she’s already scored three times, including a brace against Köln, as her side regained the league title.
Jónsdóttir is already at one of the world’s leading clubs, but will be hoping to elevate her status further at this tournament.
Iceland possible starting line-up for Euro 2022
Iceland’s full squad for Euro 2022
Goalkeepers
Defenders
Midfielders
Forwards
