“One of the best first halves we’ve ever played”

The Icelandic Women’s National Football Team lost last night to Brazil, 0:1 at Laugardalsvöllur stadium in Reykjavik. Captain Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir was happy with the team’s overall performance. “I thought we played very well. We were confident, this was probably one of the best first halves we have ever played.”

Gunnarsdóttir thought the team was a bit tired in the second half. “We were full of energy in the first half but relinquished too much in the second half. However they didn’t have many opportunities to score in the second half, we had plenty in the first we should have scored from.”

Record audience

The team set a record, 7,521 people came to watch them at Laugardalsvöllur Stadium. Never before has the team seen such a big audience at their home turf. Even though the team is popular in Iceland as they've been very succsessful for years and attended more grand tournaments than the men's team.

Next step: Euro 2017

She believes they surprised the Brazilian team. “I don’t think they expected this. We put good pressure on them and were all in it together, which is what matters.”

The team plays their first game in the EURO 2017 in the Netherlands on 18 July and Gunnarsdóttir is very optimistic. “The group is great and we’re in good shape. We’ve played very well in the last two games and I’m sure we’ll play well at the Euro 2017!”

Freyr Alexandersson is the team's coach. Photo: Iceland Monitor/Kristinn Magnússon