Iceland will make their World Cup debut in Russia to cap what has been the country’s most fruitful period in their history.
Having reached the quarterfinals at their first UEFA European Championship appearance in France 2016, Iceland followed that achievement by booking their spot at the 2018 world showpiece after topping UEFA qualifying Group I.
Iceland edged Croatia - who are also World Cup bound - Turkey and the Ukraine in what was a very competitive group as they now set their sights on upsetting the odds once more.
Head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson can call on a healthy pool of players who ply their trade across some of the best leagues in Europe, with Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson and Gylfi Sigurðsson strutting their stuff in the English Premier League. Alfreð Finnbogason and Aron Gunnarsson or others to keep an eye on as Strákarnir okkar aim to make waves in Russia.
With a population of just 335,000, Iceland became the smallest country ever to qualify for the World Cup - beating a record previously held by Trinidad and Tobago.
epa06842908 Iceland's goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson (front R) and his teammates react after the FIFA World Cup 2018 group D preliminary round soccer match between Iceland and Croatia in Rostov-On-Don, Russia, 26 June 2018. Croatia won 2-1.
epa06842672 Ivan Perisic (L) of Croatia in action against Ragnar Sigurdsson (R) of Iceland during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group D preliminary round soccer match between Iceland and Croatia in Rostov-On-Don, Russia, 26 June 2018.
epa06842690 Sverrir Ingason (L) of Iceland in action against Luka Modric (R) of Croatia during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group D preliminary round soccer match between Iceland and Croatia in Rostov-On-Don, Russia, 26 June 2018.
epa06842801 Birkir Saevarsson (L) of Iceland in action against Milan Badelj (R) of Croatia during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group D preliminary round soccer match between Iceland and Croatia in Rostov-On-Don, Russia, 26 June 2018.
Alfred Finnbogason (R) of Iceland in action against Milan Badelj (L) of Croatia during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group D preliminary round soccer match between Iceland and Croatia in Rostov-On-Don, Russia, 26 June 2018.
epa06842623 Alfred Finnbogason of Iceland takes a shot on goal against goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic of Croatia during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group D preliminary round soccer match between Iceland and Croatia in Rostov-On-Don, Russia, 26 June 2018.
Birkir Bjarnason (L) of Iceland in action against Marko Pjaca (R) of Croatia during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group D preliminary round soccer match between Iceland and Croatia in Rostov-On-Don, Russia, 26 June 2018.
epa06842628 Birkir Bjarnason (C) of Iceland in action against Mateo Kovacic (L) of Croatia during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group D preliminary round soccer match between Iceland and Croatia in Rostov-On-Don, Russia, 26 June 2018.
epa06842562 Johann Gudmundsson (up) of Iceland in action against Tin Jedvaj (bottom) of Croatia during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group D preliminary round soccer match between Iceland and Croatia in Rostov-On-Don, Russia, 26 June 2018.
epa06842574 Hordur Magnusson (back) of Iceland in action against Marko Pjaca (front) of Croatia during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group D preliminary round soccer match between Iceland and Croatia in Rostov-On-Don, Russia, 26 June 2018.
epa06831445 William Ekong (L) of Nigeria and Jon Bodvarsson of Iceland in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group D preliminary round soccer match between Nigeria and Iceland in Volgograd, Russia, 22 June 2018.
epa06831222 Goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson (L) of Iceland and Ahmed Musa of Nigeria in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group D preliminary round soccer match between Nigeria and Iceland in Volgograd, Russia, 22 June 2018.
epa06831252 John Obi Mikel (L) of Nigeria and Aron Gunnarsson of Iceland in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group D preliminary round soccer match between Nigeria and Iceland in Volgograd, Russia, 22 June 2018.
epa06831254 Leon Balogun (L) of Nigeria and Alfred Finnbogason of Iceland in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group D preliminary round soccer match between Nigeria and Iceland in Volgograd, Russia, 22 June 2018.
epa06831321 Ahmed Musa (R) of Nigeria scores the 1-0 goal during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group D preliminary round soccer match between Nigeria and Iceland in Volgograd, Russia, 22 June 2018.
epa06831018 Kenneth Omeruo (L) of Nigeria and Jon Bodvarsson of Iceland in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group D preliminary round soccer match between Nigeria and Iceland in Volgograd, Russia, 22 June 2018.
Ragnar Sigurdsson (L) of Iceland and Ahmed Musa of Nigeria in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group D preliminary round soccer match between Nigeria and Iceland in Volgograd, Russia, 22 June 2018.
epa06831017 Kelechi Iheanacho (C) of Nigeria in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group D preliminary round soccer match between Nigeria and Iceland in Volgograd, Russia, 22 June 2018.
epa06813604 Lionel Messi (L) of Argentina and Gylfi Sigurdsson of Iceland in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group D preliminary round soccer match between Argentina and Iceland in Moscow, Russia, 16 June 2018.
epa06813606 Marcos Rojo (L) of Argentina and Rurik Gislason of Iceland in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group D preliminary round soccer match between Argentina and Iceland in Moscow, Russia, 16 June 2018.
epa06813016 Lucas Biglia of Argentina (L) and Kari Arnason of Iceland in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group D preliminary round soccer match between Argentina and Iceland in Moscow, Russia, 16 June 2018.
epa06813019 Birkir Bjarnason (R) of Iceland in action against Lionel Messi (C) of Argentina during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group D preliminary round soccer match between Argentina and Iceland in Moscow, Russia, 16 June 2018.
epa06813015 Aron Gunnarsson of Iceland (L) and Sergio Aguero of Argentina in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group D preliminary round soccer match between Argentina and Iceland in Moscow, Russia, 16 June 2018.
epa06812997 Javier Mascherano of Argentina (L) and Gylfi Sigurdsson of Iceland in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group D preliminary round soccer match between Argentina and Iceland in Moscow, Russia, 16 June 2018.
epa06813009 Eduardo Salvio of Argentina (L) and Birkir Bjarnason of Iceland in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group D preliminary round soccer match between Argentina and Iceland in Moscow, Russia, 16 June 2018.
epa06812965 Lionel Messi (L) of Argentina and Ragnar Sigurdsson of Iceland in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group D preliminary round soccer match between Argentina and Iceland in Moscow, Russia, 16 June 2018.
epa06812991 Lionel Messi (L) of Argentina and Gylfi Sigurdsson of Iceland in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group D preliminary round soccer match between Argentina and Iceland in Moscow, Russia, 16 June 2018.
epa06812996 Eduardo Salvio (L) of Argentina and Birkir Bjarnason of Iceland in action during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group D preliminary round soccer match between Argentina and Iceland in Moscow, Russia, 16 June 2018.
Iceland
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