The Icelandic women’s national football team suffered a significant 4-0 defeat against Germany in the UEFA Nations League yesterday, with concerns about their performance potentially leading to relegation from the A division. Recent setbacks, including the last-minute withdrawal of key player Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir, have further impacted the team’s prospects in the competition.
Margins could have been even greater
The Icelandic women’s national football team suffered a 4-0 defeat during their visit to Germany in the UEFA Nations League yesterday. As noted by Vísir, the margin could have been even greater as the Icelandic team didn’t manage a single shot on target. “There was a vast difference in performance between the two teams,” sports commentator Sindri Sverrisson observed.
In an interview with RÚV, Þorsteinn Halldórsson, coach of the women’s national football team, stated that the Germans were skilled, aggressive, and applied high pressure on Iceland. “Of course, one could say our strategy didn’t work out. We obviously lost 4-0,” Þorsteinn commented, noting the team’s difficulty in retaining possession and losing many duels. “They were simply outstanding against us. They were very aggressive and pressed us high.”
Upcoming home matches against Denmark and Germany
With their win yesterday, Germany secured their first three points in the UEFA Nations League, having previously lost 2-0 to Denmark on Friday. Iceland also holds three points after their 1-0 victory over Wales. Denmark sits atop the table with 6 points, having secured a resounding 1-5 victory against Wales yesterday.
Iceland’s upcoming matches will be home games against Denmark and Germany at the end of October. The group stage will then conclude in early December with away games against Wales and Denmark.
In competition against Wales
The team finishing at the bottom of the group will be relegated to the B division. As noted by Vísir, “given Iceland’s performance last night – and arguably against Wales as well – it seems evident that Iceland’s battle will be against Wales to avoid direct relegation.” The challenge, however, is that the team in the 3rd position is not guaranteed to stay in the A division either but will have to compete in a playoff against a B division team.
“All (distant) dreams of competing for the top spot, and thereby a potential Olympic seat, however, seemed to have vanished last night,” Vísir noted. This should not, however, come as a surprise, considering how much the Icelandic national team has weakened over the past year due to various setbacks: the last-minute withdrawal of Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir just before Iceland’s first two matches in the competition being especially frustrating.
