Former Icelandic national team player and Rukh Lviv player Ragnar Sigurdsson assessed the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifying match against Ukraine.
Ragnar Sigurdsson (photo: fcrukh.com)- How is the Icelandic national team playing now? Ukraine played against them for the last time quite a while ago.
- I watched yesterday's match. I think we have a generally attacking team now. When we played before, we had a more defensive team. This team also defends well, but they have incredible attacking players.
- What are the key aspects that Ukraine should pay attention to in Iceland's game?
- I really don't know, and I don't think I should tell you about them.
- And what are the important players in the Icelandic national team that you would single out?
- Arnor Traustason, he has become very important for the team in the midfield, he plays an unselfish role, fighting and playing the ball for his team. Sverrir Ingason, the captain, he is our best defender. I would also single out Viktor Paulsson, our right-back, who is very important for the team right now. He plays very well as a right-back, but he can also play in the midfield and as a centre-back, he is a versatile player.
We are very lucky with goalkeeper Gaukon Valdimarsson, I think he is very good, the goal is in good hands. But obviously, Albert Gudmundsson is our best player right now. He hasn't been with the team for a long time, but he scored three goals yesterday. He is incredible, he plays in Serie A for Genoa, we are happy to have him.
- What are your expectations for the Iceland vs Ukraine match? Who do you think will win?
- I don't know. The game yesterday between Israel and Iceland was a game between teams that did not know what status they had. Things were not going well for both of them, the game was 50-50. And for me, the game against Ukraine is the same. I don't know much about the Ukrainian national team right now, and our Icelandic team can play well, but they can also play a very bad match. They are not very stable.
So I think the match will be 50-50. But I hope our guys will be able to bring the thirst for victory, the fire, and get that extra edge we need against a team like Ukraine.
