The Icelandic National Women’s Soccer Team for players 17 years old and younger will be playing in the European Women’s U-17 Championship semi-finals, held in Switzerland; they were the fourth team to qualify for the finals after Germany, France and Spain. The team will play against Spain for a spot in the championship game today at 2 pm local time in Switzerland.
From random football game played in Laugardalshöll. Photo by Páll Stefánsson
Spain and Germany are regulars in the finals and for Iceland to be the fourth team to qualify is “bringing out the hunger for more” coach Thorvaldur Már Árnason told Morgunbladid.
“They’ve won every game they played and will be playing for either the bronze or gold medal. The preparation for the game is mostly spiritual as the girls are under a lot of pressure from their local Icelandic teams where most of them have a fixed place and play a role in the team’s success.”
Before the European Cup all the players met with a sport psychologist.
The team has received a lot of attention from other teams and the Swedish national team and their team of coaches will pay close attention to the Icelandic team as they play the two games in the finals; the Icelandic team has beaten the Swedish team three times before.
The Icelandic team receives little attention in Iceland while the Icelandic Under-21 men’s team receives plenty; however, overseas the media are showing a lot of interest in the team and praise them in several articles that can be found on the official website for the European Championship.
The Women’s European U-17 Championship is broadcast on Eurosport but no Icelandic media have bought the rights to show the championship.
Click here to read more about the European Women’s U-17 Championship and here to read more about the Icelandic team.
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