Iceland have named their 23-man squad for this summer's Euro 2016, with the big news being the inclusion of 37-year-old striker Eiður Guðjohnsen.

The former Chelsea man, who notably spent last season back in England with Bolton Wanderers, will bring a wealth of experience to a side who are heading into their first ever major tournament.

Gylfi Sigurðsson, who picked up four accolades at Swansea City's annual awards night last night, Alfreð Finnbogason and Kolbeinn Sigþórsson will be other familiar names to followers of European football, while Cardiff City's Aron Gunnarsson will captain the side.

Experience aplenty

Despite this being the country's first major tournament, their squad is one which boasts plenty of experience at club level.

Understandably, the players selected don't have a ton of international caps under their belts, averaging 30 per head, but with an average age of 27-years-old, this is a group of footballers that know the game well.

Gudjohnsen spearheads this aspect of the squad, with 84 caps, 25 goals and spells with the likes of Barcelona to his name - where he picked up a UEFA Champions League medal that tops a long list of career honours.

Quality aplenty

What this Iceland team lack in top level international experience, they make up for in top level European quality. With players dotted around the continent's top leagues, their qualification to this summer's big event is reminiscent of Belgium reaching the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

The Red Flames had a squad well-known to all because of their presence around Europe, and the feel around Iceland's team is similar. 

Midfielder Birkir Bjarnason heads into the summer with a Swiss Super League winners' medal around his neck, and after scoring 10 goals to help clinch that with FC Basel; defender Ragnar Sigurðsson has helped FC Krasnodar secure a Europa League berth by playing his part in 12 clean sheets this season; while Gylfi Sigurðsson scored 11 goals from midfield for Swansea in the Premier League this year.

There's talent in this team and, with most of the players at mid-table sides in their respective leagues, it's a chance for many to put their names on the maps of scouts this summer and earn themselves pathways to bigger and better things.

After 11 goals from midfield this season, Gylfi Sigurdsson is certainly Iceland's danger man. (Photo: visir.is)
After 11 goals from midfield this season, Gylfi Sigurðsson is certainly Iceland's danger man. (Photo: visir.is)

Squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Ingvar Jónsson (Sandefjord/Norway), Ögmundur Kristinsson (Hammarby IF/Sweden), Hannes Þór Halldórsson (FK Bodø Glimt/Norway).

Defenders: Hjörtur Hermannsson (IFK Göteborg/Sweden), Sverrir Ingi Ingason (Lokeren/Belgium), Hörður Björgvin Magnússon (Cesena/Italy), Haukur Heiðar Hauksson (AIK/Sweden), Ari Freyr Skúlason (OB/Denmark), Ragnar Sigurðsson (Krasnodar/Russia), Birkir Már Sævarsson (Hammarby IF/Sweden), Kári Árnason (Malmö FF/Sweden).

Midfielders: Arnór Ingvi Traustason (IFK Norrköping/Sweden), Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson (Charlton Athletic/England), Rúnar Már Sigurjónsson (GIF Sundsvall/Sweden), Gylfi Sigurðsson (Swansea City/Wales), Aron Gunnarsson (Cardiff City/Wales), Birkir Bjarnason (Basel/Switzerland), Theódór Elmar Bjarnason (AGF/Denmark), Emil Hallfreðsson (Udinese/Italy).

Forwards: Jón Daði Böðvarsson (Kaiserslautern/Germany), Kolbeinn Sigþórsson (Nantes/France), Alfreð Finnbogason (Augsburg/Germany), Eiður Guðjohnsen (Molde FK/Norway).

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About the author
Ameé Ruszkai
Head of the Sunderland, Swansea City and women football sections at VAVEL UK. Email: [email protected]