01.06.2014, 12:16
Petersson fit to play in play-offs

NEWS REPORT: Rhein-Neckar Löwen right back will join Iceland's national team for the first time in more than a year for double header against Bosnia and Herzegovina

Petersson fit to play in play-offs

Iceland prepare for their World Championship 2015 Play-offs against Bosnia and Herzegovina on 7 and 15 June  by playing three friendly matches against Portugal in Iceland in the coming days-

Head coach Aron Kristjansson has nominated 29 players including Aron Palmarsson and Gudjon Valur Sigurdsson from THW Kiel who will meet the rest of the squad following the VELUX EHF FINAL4 in Cologne this weekend.

For the first time in more than a year Rhein-Neckar Löwen right back Alexander Petersson is fit to play with the national team in a competitive match and is looking forward to helping his team in the upcoming double header.

On the line coach Kristjansson is likely to make use of Rubert Gunnarsson, who plays club handball for PSG in France. Kari Kristjansson, line player at Bjerringbro-Silkeborg, is not available for the play-offs, while Vignir Svavarsson and Bjarki Gunnarsson will probably get their court time in defence but not in attack

Hence Kristjansson will have to choose between Atli Ingolfsson and Heimir Oli Heimisson wo will be the second line player in the final squad.

Iceland have only played once against Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was in January 2009 in Denmark in a friendly tournament and Iceland won the match 33:31.

The last test match against Portugal is scheduled for 3 June and afterwards Aron Kristjansson will probably pick the 17 to 19 players who will acoompany him to Sarajevo for the first play-off match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Iceland have not missed out on a big tournament since the World Championship in Croatia in 2009.

TEXT: Thorkell Sigurbjörnsson / ts