Iceland look to Eurovision for inspiration

ICELAND will retain their renowned sense of optimism when they take on alreadyqualified Croatia in a bid to claw their way out of Group D today.

“We are optimistic about everything. If it’s the Eurovision song contest we always think we’re going to win it, even though we never do. It’s the same here – optimism is in our genes,” said coach Heimir Hallgrimsson ahead of a game that Iceland must win to have any chance of advancing to the last 16.

Iceland’s titanic task could be eased if Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic sticks to his promise of rotating his team to keep his squad fresh, his side having sealed their place in the next round by beating Nigeria 2-0 and Argentina 3-0.

Dalic is expected to leave out

six players who are on yellow cards, including Mario Mandzukic and Ivan Rakitic, while 32-year-old captain Luka Modric and Dejan Lovren could also be in line for a rest.

Yet, Hallgrimsson believes that facing a batch of fresh players eager to prove themselves could work against his Iceland side.

“We have to approach it in the same way – it doesn’t matter if they change one player or 10.”

Croatia lost 1-0 to Iceland during the World Cup qualifiers and had to go through the play-offs to reach the finals, so they will be taking nothing for granted.

Dalic refused to say if he was planning to make wholesale changes, insisting: “It is not nice to say we have a reserve team. This is the Croatian national squad. All my players are going to play the same way they played against Nigeria and Argentina.

“We want to beat Iceland to stay top of our group. We have our own style of play and we are going to stick to it while being watchful on their long balls and set pieces.”