By Akinwale Kasali
Less than 32 days to commencement of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, world cup debutants and Super Eagles opponent in Group D at the soccer showpiece, Iceland, has named the 23-man team that will prosecute the world cup matches for the Scandinavian country when hostilities commence in Russia.
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).
