Subject: Ísland U21

Week 11 - African Cup - Group B:
Ísland U21 - Kenya U21 0:0

Ísland U21

1. H. Samúelsson
2. H. Jóelsson
3. A. Hjálmarsson
4. V. Mikaelsson
(46' H. Nonnason)
5. A. Héðinnsson
6. H. Ingimundsson
7. A. Edvínsson RED CARD '28
8. A. Sighvatsson
9. D. Valdimarsson
10. �. Orlygsson
11. H. Vilbergsson
12. S. Sebastiansson
13. B. Sverrisson
15. A. Alfreðsson
16. J. Hilmarsson

In the first match of the African Cup, we drew 0-0 against Kenya. Already in the 28th minute of the match our best midfielder, Arnar Freyr Edvínsson, was red carded. We played 10v11 for over 60 minutes but kept the draw. On Friday we will play against al-Jazā’ir, which defeated Ghana 6-0 in the first match. We will play without Arnar Freyr Edvínsson.


(edited)

Week 12 - African Cup - Group B:
Ísland U21 - al-Jazā’ir U21 1:3

Ísland U21

1. S. Sebastiansson INJURY
(7' B. Þrastarsson)
2. H. Jóelsson
3. A. Hjálmarsson
4. V. Mikaelsson
(46' H. Nonnason)
5. A. Héðinnsson
6. H. Ingimundsson
7. A. Alfreðsson
(46' �. Kristinsson)
8. A. Sighvatsson
9. D. Valdimarsson
10. �. Orlygsson
11. H. Vilbergsson
13. B. Sverrisson
16. J. Hilmarsson

In the second match of the Group B African Cup, we lost 1:3 against al-Jazā’ir. Our goalkeeper S. Sebastiansson (18yo) had his debut in the National Team, who had to leave the field after 7 minutes due to an injury. Our opponent had more shots on goal, but we also had great situations. Orlygsson had 3 one-on-one situations, but only used one. After two rounds we are 3rd in Group B, but we secured a promotion to the quarterfinals, because our next opponent, Ghana, booked a match against another opponent and we will win this match 3:0 v.o.. On Friday, instead of against Ghana, we will play a friendly match against Belarus U21. Certainly a few debutants will play in this match.

GROUP B:


BEST THIRD

Week 13 - African Cup - Group B:
Ghana U21 - Ísland U21 0:3 v.o.

Our opponent arranged a friendly match against another opponent and gave us a walkover in the last round.
Therefore we arranged a match against Belarus U21.

Week 13 - Friendly match:
Belarus U21 - Ísland U21 0:2 (0:1) shots: 1-10

Ísland U21

1. H. Samúelsson
2. H. Jóelsson
3. A. Hjálmarsson
(80' H. Benediktsson)
4. V. Mikaelsson
5. A. Héðinnsson
6. H. Ingimundsson
7. A. Edvínsson
(71' �. Kristinsson)
8. A. Sighvatsson
9. D. Valdimarsson
10. �. Orlygsson
11. H. Vilbergsson
(80' J. Hilmarsson)
12. A. Þorfinnsson
14. H. Nonnason

We won the match against an opponent playing on a level similar to ours. We played a great defense, not allowing the opponent to clear goal situations. Hallfríður Vilbergsson scored the first goal for our national team. In the second half, our top scorer Árni Þór Orlygsson scored 13 goals for the national team. 20 y.o. defender Hafberg Benediktsson and 16 y.o. forward Jón Ingi Hilmarsson made their national debuts in this match. In a week's time we will play in the quarter-finals of the African Cup. We are waiting for the draw.

III AFRICAN CUP U21 AFTER GROUP STAGE

GROUP B:


BEST THIRD

DRAW SECOND PHASE OF III AFRICAN CUP U21

4TH FINAL

Misr vs Nigeria
Tūnis vs Ísland
Al-Jazā’ir vs South Africa
Severna Makedonija vs Kenya



In the quarter-finals of the III African Cup we will play against the winner of Group A - Tūnis U21.

Next week, 13 of our players will end their youth age and will have to leave the Ísland U21. Some of them will play their last match in the Ísland U21 on Friday.

GK
Heiðar Samúelsson (23 matches/ 0 goals /0 assists)
Andri Snær Þorfinnsson (2/0/0)
Breki Erlingsson (1/0/0)

DEF
Hólmgeir Nonnason (27/0/0)
Bjarni Sverrisson (4/0/0)

MID
Arnar Freyr Edvínsson (39/0/6)
Arnar Freyr Sighvatsson (38/0/1)
Atli Alfreðsson (16/0/0)
Erik Elísson (19/0/1)
Úlfur Þorgrímsson (3/0/0)

ATT
Hróar Sigursteinnsson (16/4/0)
Hróar Eyþórsson (8/1/0)
Þórður Kristinsson (8/0/0)

I think that 4 of these players (Heiðar Samúelsson, Andri Snær Þorfinnsson, Arnar Freyr Edvínsson and Arnar Freyr Sighvatsson have a chance to join the senior team in the future.
Their place in the U21 team will be taken by some younger players. I am currently watching 25 young players aged 16-20.

Week 14 - African Cup U21: Quaterfinal:
Tūnis U21 - Ísland U21 1:1 (1:1, 0:0) pen. 1:3, shots: 5-6

Ísland U21

1. H. Samúelsson
2. H. Jóelsson
(46' H. Nonnason)
3. A. Hjálmarsson
4. V. Mikaelsson
5. A. Héðinnsson
6. H. Ingimundsson
7. A. Edvínsson
8. A. Sighvatsson
(115' �. Kristinsson)
9. D. Valdimarsson
10. �. Orlygsson
11. H. Vilbergsson
12. A. Þorfinnsson
14. B. Sverrisson
16. B. Eyþórsson

We are in the African Cup semi-finals!!! :)
After an even match, we won in penalties against Tunisia and we will play against Egypt in the semi-final! As always, our forward Orlygsson did not disappoint, scoring a goal in the 89th minute of the match and scoring a penalty goal. The hero of the match was also Davíð Valdimarsson, who made a fantastic assist and scored a penalty goal. The penalty was also scored by forward Hallfríður Vilbergsson. The 21-year-olds: Heiðar Samúelsson, Arnar Freyr Edvínsson, Arnar Freyr Sighvatsson and Hólmgeir Nonnason played a farewell match for the Icelandic U21 NT. In the match against Tunisia, no one was injured and did not receive a card. Yesterday, a young, 16-year-old player Rafn Daðason joined the team. I hope he will continue to grow and be a strong point for the Iceland U21 NT.

Congratulations, great result.

Thanks Valdo :)

Great job

Thanks Jonas :) I'm working on a new tactic for the semi-final, I hope that luck will be with us :)

Well done! Great job you are making

Thanks Noteboom! :)

Week 15 - African Cup U21: SEMIFINAL:
Misr U21 - Ísland U21 1:2 (0:1), shots: 8-7

Ísland U21

1. S. Sebastiansson
2. H. Jóelsson
(80' H. Valtýrsson)
3. A. Hjálmarsson
4. H. Ingimundsson
5. V. Mikaelsson
6. J. Þórlaksson
(77' M. Svavarsson)
7. A. Héðinnsson
8. D. Valdimarsson
9. �. Kristinsson
10. �. Orlygsson
11. H. Vilbergsson
(77' �. Orrason)
12. B. Þrastarsson
14. G. Jóason

Amazing, We are in the African Cup U21 Final! After a very exciting match, we won the African Cup semi-finals against Egypt U21 - 2:1. Hallfríður Vilbergsson scored a goal for our team in the 45' before the end of the first half. Right after the break, our opponents scored 1:1. After two minutes, our best striker Árni Þór Orlygsson scored a 2:1 goal with a beautiful long shot. Until the end of the match, we successfully defended ourselves and won the match. We played a new tactic 4-3-1-2 which worked perfectly well. In the final, we will play against the winner of the second semi-final Algeria - Kenya.

We will play against Al-Jazā’ir in the African Cup U21 Final on Friday.

U21 Group H

1. France U21 (rank. 16)
2. Azərbaycan U21 (rank. 30)
3. Bolivia U21 (rank. 47)
4. South Africa U21 (rank. 57)
5. Ísland U21 (rank. 74)
6. Kenya U21 (rank. 90)

Today the U21 World Cup qual ifying groups were drawn. We will play against France, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, South Africa and Kenya. A lot of emotions await us.

Wow, great job at reaching the final