
Iceland 2 - 0 Republic of Ireland

This was an altogether different start compared to the last game between the two teams four days previously with Ireland pressing high and not giving their hosts time to settle.
In fact, it was Ireland who looked the more dangerous inside the opening 10 minutes with Megan Connolly firing a shot wide, Katie McCabe and Heather Payne providing width, and Denise O’Sullivan making breaking runs from midfield.
Iceland, as expected, responded with a couple of half chances but brave defending – particularly by Louise Quinn – ensured that they could not find a way through. Goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan also was on full alert.
On 31 minutes, Amber Barrett, who was lively thoughout, hooked a left-footed shot wide from just inside the penalty area. It was a positive sign of Ireland’s intent to shoot when within distance of the opposition’s goal.
Iceland broke free five minutes later with Berglind Björg Þorvaldsdóttir but her shot was well dealt with by Brosnan. Up the other end, Connolly forced a save from goalkeeper Rúnarsdóttir with a shot from distance.
Early in the second half, Iceland almost broke the deadlock when Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir got free inside the area but Brosnan put her off before Diane Caldwell charged down a shot.
When the goal did come for the hosts it was more through poor Irish defending as Þorvaldsdóttir pounced inside the area to poke the ball past Brosnan after breaking free from her marker.
Ireland tried to find a way back into the game and substitute Jessica Ziu added a lot of speed but a superb strike from Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir then ended the contest to secure the win for Iceland.
Next up for Ireland is the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers, starting in September away to Georgia.
Iceland: Rúnarsdóttir; Halldórsdóttir, Viggósdóttir, Gísladóttir; Vilhjálmsdóttir, Brynjarsdóttir (Ágústsdóttir 72), GY Jónsdóttir (Tómsdóttir 80), SJ Jónsdóttir (Albertsdóttir 72), Jóhannsdóttir (Hauksdóttir 46), Sigurðardóttir (Arnardóttir 46); Þorvaldsdóttir (Jensen 80).
Republic of Ireland: Brosnan; Finn, O’Riordan, Quinn, Caldwell, O’Mahony (McLaughlin 80); O’Sullivan, Connolly; Payne, Barrett (Ziu 62), McCabe.
Referee: Kirsty Dowie (England).
Vera Pauw’s narrowly lost 3-2 last Friday in Laugardalsvollur – against a team sitting 17 places above them in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings – and they will meet again in the same venue.
This game – which will be live on the RTÉ Player – will act as the final warm-up before the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers kick off in September, where Ireland will be away to Georgia in their Group A opener.
TEAM NEWS
There are no injury concerns within the Ireland squad.
All of the players & staff have tested negative for COVID-19.
QUOTES
Republic of Ireland Manager Vera Pauw
“I think we have to set something right with this game. The result of last week's game is not a bad result, 3-2, especially when you consider that Iceland are ranked in between Denmark and Belgium, but we didn't start well and that is something we know is not good enough.
"In the second half (of the first game), we had many chances...we counted 12 chances whereas Iceland only had six real chances. Young players are also knocking on the door, which is very good.
"We do appreciate that people will think that it is six games that we've lost but we see the growth in every single game and people around the country see it also. Of course everybody wants a win and we are going for that. The main thing in the back of our minds is that we need to qualify (for the World Cup).
"We will go for the win against Iceland, but overall we chose this opponent because we wanted to test ourselves and see what level our players are at. The more time that we get to work with the players the more we can see them progress, so we need to maintain that stability and move forward."
PLAYER INTERVIEWS
Credit FAI TV if using either of the below interviews...
SQUAD LISTS
Republic of Ireland
Goalkeepers: Grace Moloney (Reading), Courtney Brosnan (Unattached), Eve Badana (DLR Waves)
Defenders: Keeva Keenan (Celtic), Claire O’Riordan (MSV Duisburg), Niamh Farrelly (Glasgow City), Louise Quinn (Fiorentina), Diane Caldwell (North Carolina Courage), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Claire Walsh (Peamount United), Éabha O’Mahony (Cork City), Áine O’Gorman (Peamount United)
Midfielders: Jamie Finn (Shelbourne), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ciara Grant (Shelbourne), Roma McLaughlin (Connecticut Fusion), Jessica Ziu (Shelbourne), Ellen Molloy (Wexford Youths), Katie McCabe (Arsenal)
Forwards: Heather Payne (Florida State University), Rianna Jarrett (Unattached), Amber Barrett (FC Koln), Saoirse Noonan (Shelbourne), Aoife Colvill (Glasgow City)
Iceland
Goalkeepers: Sandra Sigurðardóttir (Valur), Cecilía Rán Rúnarsdóttir (KIF Örebro DFF), Auður Sveinbjörnsdóttir Scheving (ÍBV)
Defenders: Hafrún Rakel Halldórsdóttir (Breiðablik), Elísa Viðarsdóttir (Valur), Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir (FC Rosengard), Ingibjörg Sigurðardóttir (Valerenga), Guðrún Arnardóttir (Djurgarden IF DFF) Kristín Dís Árnadóttir (Breiðablik), Hallbera Guðný Gísladóttir (AIK), Áslaug Munda Gunnlaugsdóttir (Breiðablik)
Midfielders: Andrea Rán Hauksdóttir (Breiðablik), Dagný Brynjarsdóttir (West Ham United), Gunnhildur Yrsa Jónsdóttir (Orlando Pride), Alexandra Jóhannsdóttir (Eintracht Frankfurt), Karitas Tómsdóttir (Breiðablik), Berglind Rós Ágústsdóttir (KIF Örebro DFF), Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir (Bayern Munich)
Forwards: Berglind Björg Þorvaldsdóttir (Le Havre), Elín Metta Jensen (Valur), Agla María Albertsdóttir (Breiðablik), Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir (Kristianstads DFF), Svava Rós Guðmundsdóttir (Girondins de Bordeaux)
CAPS LIST
Republic of Ireland
Goalkeepers: Grace Moloney (5 caps / 0 clean sheets), Eve Badana (3 caps / 0 clean sheets), Courtney Brosnan (3 caps / 1 clean sheet)
Defenders: Keeva Keenan (3 caps / 0 goals), Claire Walsh (3 caps / 0 goals), Niamh Farrelly (3 caps / 0 goals), Louise Quinn (85 caps / 11 goals), Diane Caldwell (82 caps / 3 goals), Claire O'Riordan (16 caps / 0 goals), Niamh Fahey (94 caps / 0 goals), Éabha O’Mahony (2 caps / 0 goals), Áine O'Gorman (107 caps / 13 goals)
Midfielders: Jamie Finn (4 caps / 0 goals), Denise O'Sullivan (83 caps / 11 goals), Megan Connolly (28 caps / 1 goal), Ellen Molloy (4 caps / 0 goals), Ciara Grant (15 caps / 0 goals), Jessica Ziu (3 caps / 0 goals), Roma McLaughlin (5 caps / 0 goals), Katie McCabe (51 caps / 10 goals)
Forwards: Heather Payne (17 caps / 1 goal), Amber Barrett (22 caps / 3 goals), Rianna Jarrett (15 caps / 1 goal), Saoirse Noonan (0 caps / 0 goals), Aoife Colvill (1 cap / 0 goals)
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
March 9, 2007: Republic of Ireland 1-1 Iceland – International Friendly
March 7, 2008: Iceland 4-1 Republic of Ireland – International Friendly
October 26, 2008: Republic of Ireland 1-1 Iceland – EURO 2019 Play-Off
October 30, 2008: Iceland 3-0 Republic of Ireland – EURO 2019 Play-Off
June 8, 2017: Republic of Ireland 0-0 Iceland – International Friendly
June 11, 2021: Iceland 3-2 Republic of Ireland – International Friendly
MATCH DETAILS
Iceland v Republic of Ireland
International Friendly
Tuesday, June 15
Laugardalsvollur
KO 18:00 (Irish Time)
LIVE on RTÉ Player / RTÉ News Channel
Referee: Kirsty Dowie (England)
SOCIAL MEDIA
Game Hashtag: #ISLIRL
Team Hashtag: #COYGIG
Association Hashtag: #WeAreOne