Russia 2018: Nigeria’s World Cup Opponent, Iceland, Name 23-man Squad

Agency ReporterMay 14, 2018

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One of Nigeria’s group opponents at the Russia 2018 World Cup, Iceland, has surprised many by naming their 23-man squad for the Mundial three weeks earlier than required by FIFA. The 23-man squad announced on Friday is made up of three goalkeepers, eight defenders, eight midfielders and four strikers.

Iceland included Gylfi Sigurdsson in their squad for the World Cup, despite the Everton playmaker being injured. Sigurdsson is a key member of the Iceland squad but has been out injured after he damaged knee ligaments in March with his Premier League club Everton announcing he could be out for about eight weeks. He has won 55 caps and scored 18 goals for his country.

Iceland, the smallest country ever to qualify for the World Cup, are in Group D with Argentina, Nigeria and Croatia.

They will face Nigeria in a Group D clash on June 22 in Volgograd after their first game against Argentina on June 16.

On their part, a provisional list of 35 players is expected from Super Eagles Coach Gernot Rohr next week before the 23-man list is sent to FIFA before the June 4 deadline.

ICELAND’S FINAL 23-MAN WORLD CUP SQUAD:
Hannes Halldorsson (Randers), Runar Runarsson (Nordsjaelland), Frederik Schram (Roskilde);Kari Arnason (Aberdeen), Holmar Eyjolfsson (Levski Sofia), Rurik Gislason (Sandhausen), Sverrir Ingason (Rostov), Hordur Magnusson (Bristol City), Birkir Saevarsson (Valur), Ragnar Sigurdsson (Rostov), Ari Skulason (Lokeren);

Birkir Bjarnason (Aston Villa), Samuel Fridjonsson (Valerenga), Johann Gudmundsson (Burnley), Aron Gunnarsson (Cardiff City), Emil Hallfredsson (Udinese), Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton), Olafur Skulason (Karabukspor), Arnor Traustason (Malmo);

Jon Bodvarsson (Reading), Alfred Finnbogason (Augsburg), Albert Gudmundsson (PSV), Bjorn Sigurdarson (Rostov).

RESERVE LIST: Andri Bjarnason (Helsingborgs), Elmar Bjarnason (Elazigspor), Kjartan Finnbogason (Horbens), Jon Fjoluson (Norrkoping), Hjortur Hermannsson (Brondby), Ingvar Jonsson (Sandefjord), Vidar Kjartansson (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Ogmundur Kristinsson (Excelsior), Elias Omarsson (Gothenburg), Kolbeinn Sigthorsson (Nantes), Runar Sigurjonsson (St Gallen, on loan from Grasshoppers), Arnor Smarason (Hammarby).

Iceland