Iceland not afraid of anyone in 2018 FIFA World Cup, declares Runarsson

Icealand's reserve goalkeeper Runar Alex Runarsson declared that they are not afraid of anyone in the 2018 FIFA World Cup and they are ready for a fight against Argentina, Nigeria and Croatia in Russia.

Iceland, who are playing their first-ever World Cup, is the smallest nation ever to qualify for a FIFA World Cup but Runarsson feels that their Viking mentality gives them the belief to overcome all the odds.

2018 FIFA WORLD CUP: FULL COVERAGE

This is the second time fans will get to see the men from the 'Land of Fire and Ice' play a big tournament after the 2016 Euros, where they surprised everyone by making the quarters. Their "thunderclap" sent a shiver down the spine of their opponents and became a raging phenomenon as fans around the world appreciated their 'never say die attitude' and celebration. Runnarsson was a fan two years back and was in the stands doing the "thunderclaps" but this time around, he will get a first-hand account of the action unfolding.

And, he feels that the big boys in Group D do not frighten them.

"For sure, our mentality is the biggest thing that we have, we're not afraid of anybody," the 23-year-old said.

"It depends a lot on the first game against Argentina how we'll perform there, but if we get a point there or win that game then everything is possible for us."

This will the first time Iceland will play in a World Cup (Reuters Photo)

Runarsson, who plays for FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark, is back-up to Hannes Haldorsson and one of several new faces in the squad that will represent the tiny island nation in Russia.

"It's going to be very tough but we showed in France that we can beat everyone, we can beat all the teams, we can compete with them all. That's what we're gonna do," he said.

Boasting just 340,000 inhabitants, Iceland's long-term investment in facilities and coaching has been rewarded with a first visit to the World Cup finals, the smallest nation ever to make it that far.

Runarsson, however, is one of the exceptions in a strong crop of emerging talent who tend to grow up in Iceland.

NOMADIC CAREER

His father Runar Kristinsson is the country's most-capped senior men's international and his nomadic career took him and his family to Sweden, Norway and Belgium before returning to Reykjavik in 2007.

"He's sad that he never got the chance to play at a major finals, but the national team wasn't at the same level that it is now when he was playing," Runarsson explained of his father.

"We went to the European Championships in France together and watched all the games and it was amazing, but this time he will be in the stands cheering for me, and probably being a little bit annoyed that it's me, not him, in the squad."

Runarsson also fully expects Iceland to continue playing the tough, physical brand of football that got them to the finals.

"Our playing style is very direct. We're not going to take a lot of chances when we don't have to. Rather, we make the other teams make the mistakes and we grab the opportunities that are given to us," he said.

He credits his technical and tactical skills to spending seven years in Belgium from the age of five while his father played for Lokeren, but there is little doubt where he and his team mates get their winning mentality from.

"Every time I go on the pitch, I'm going to be a Viking and I'm going to give everything," Runarsson said.

(With inputs from Reuters)