FIFA World Cup: Iceland name injured Sigurdsson in 23-man squad

Iceland on Friday announced its 23-man squad that will be representing the country at its first-ever FIFA World Cup.  Topping the list to Russia is injured Everton midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson.

The Everton of England player who has missed seven games with a knee injury this season is among the seven players representing British clubs in the premiership and championship division.

A breakdown revealed that three goalkeepers, eight defenders, eight midfielders and four strikers were announced at a press conference by manager Heimir Hallgrímsson on Friday afternoon.

Besides the 23 players, 12 other players are on standby to replace an injured player as stipulated by FIFA. Such changes will however be done before Iceland’s opening game against Argentina on June 16.

The Strákarnir Okkar otherwise known as the “Our Boys” in English became the first country to unveil its list.

Iceland are in the tough-looking Group D out in Russia this summer where they will face Argentina, Croatia and Nigeria.

They secured their place at the tournament after topping Group I in European qualifying, pipping the Croatians to top spot in a group that also included Ukraine and Turkey.

Iceland 23-Man World Cup Squad

Goalkeepers (3) : Hannes Thor Halldórsson (Randers FC), Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson (Nordsjælland), Frederik Schram (Roskilde)
Defenders (8) : Birkir Már Sævarsson (Valur), Ragnar Sigurðsson (Rostov),Kári árnason (Aberdeen), Ari Freyr
Skúlason (Lokeren), Sverrir Ingi Ingason (Rostov), Hörður Björgvin Magnússon (Bristol City), Samuel Kári Fridriðsson (Valerenga), Hólmar örn Eyjólfsson (Levski Sofia)
Midfielders (8) : Aaron Einar Gunnarsson (Cardiff), Gyfi þór Sigurðsson (Everton), Emil Hallfreðsson (Udinese), Birkir Bjarnason (Aston Villa), Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson (Burnley), ólafur Ingi Skúlason (Karabukspor), Arnór Ingvi Traustason (Malmö), Rúrik Gíslason (Sandhausen)
Strikers (4) : Alfreð Finnbogason (Augsburg), Jón Daði Böðvarsson (Reading), Björn Bergmann Sigurðarson (Rostov), Albert Gudmundsson (PSV Eindhoven)