Positive vibes despite key injuries for Iceland

Icelandic women’s national team coach Agust Johannsson has selected 16 players to face France in two matches in the end of March in their EHF EURO 2014 qualifiers. 

The team will have to face the French without many key players. Stella Sigurdardottir, the team captain, has not played for her club SonderjyskE in Denmark for the last two months after sustaining a head injury.

Rut Jonsdottir of Team Tvis Holstebro had a surgery on her shoulder earlier in this season and is out, as is goalkeeper Gudny Jenny Asmundsdottir. Asta Birna Gunnarsdottir is still recovering from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament last autumn and Rakel Dogg Bragadottir retired at the age of 27 last December because of a head injury.

Iceland lie second in Group 2 with two points from two matches alongside Slovakia, who beat Iceland by a single goal in October. 

“The situation is no secret that we are without many important players. But we also have good players who played well recently with their clubs, so we also have something positive before these matches against France,” Agust Johannsson said.

Iceland meet France in Reykjavik on Wednesday 26 March, before the teams play each other again in France three days later.

Goalkeepers:
Florentina Stanciu (Stjarnan)
Íris Björk Símonardóttir (Grótta)

Court players:
Arna Sif Pálsdóttir (SK Aarhus)
Birna Berg Haraldsdóttir (Sävehof)
Brynja Magnúsdóttir Flint (Tönsberg)
Hanna G. Stefánsdóttir (Stjarnan)
Hildigunnur Einarsdóttir (Tertnes)
Hildur Þorgeirsdóttir (Koblenz)
Karen Knútsdóttir (Sønderjyske)
Karólína Lárudóttir (Valur)
Ramune Petraskyte (Sønderjyske)
Sandra Sif Sigurjónsdóttir (Stjarnan)
Steinunn Björnsdóttir (Fram)
Sunna Jónsdóttir (BK Heid)
Unnur Ómarsdóttir (Grótta)
Þórey Rósa Stefánsdóttir (Våg Vipers)