Iceland’s Euro 2017 campaign begins

Can Iceland's women qualify for Euro 2017?

Can Iceland's women qualify for Euro 2017? Photo: Ómar

Expectations are high as the Icelandic women’s football team embarks on its Euro 2017 qualification journey.

Captain Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir has predicted a top-of-the-table finish for Iceland and direct qualification to the finals, to be held in the Netherlands in 2017.

“We should win the group and qualify,” she confidently states.

Iceland’s competitors in Group 1 are Belarus, FYR Macedonia, Scotland and Slovenia. Gunnarsdóttir identifies the Scots as Iceland’s most dangerous rival for the top spot.

The winner of each of the eight groups qualifies directly to the finals, together with the six best runners-up.

The Icelandic women’s team has qualified to Euro 2017 on the two previous occasions. The men’s team achieved their first qualification (for Euro 2016) earlier this month.

Gunnarsdóttir’s team begin their campaign on Tuesday 22 September with their first-leg match against Belarus at home in Reykjavik.

Iceland skipper Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir.

Iceland skipper Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir. Photo: Styrmir Kári

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