Iceland out to chill Scots hearts

By Thomas McGuigan

Eidur Gudjohnsen (centre) was on target against Norway

In May this year, an earthquake hit southern Iceland about 30 miles from the capital, Reykjavik.

On Wednesday, Iceland's national football side will aim to provide a few shockwaves when they take on Scotland in World Cup qualifying Group Nine at the Laugardalsvollur stadium.

Defeat by Macedonia in Scotland manager George Burley's first competitive game has triggered anxiety among the Tartan Army foot soldiers.

Scotland have failed to progress to the finals of the World Cup or European Championship since 1998, while Wednesday's opponents Iceland have never had the luxury of packing their suitcases for a major finals.

Iceland manager Olafur Johannesson will be confident of further derailing Scotland's World Cup hopes when the sides meet in Reykavik, after watching his side draw 2-2 away to Norway.

Despite former Tottenham striker Steffen Iversen twice giving Norway the lead in Oslo on Saturday, goals from Bolton striker Heidar Helguson and Barcelona star Eidur Gudjohnsen secured a point for Johannesson's men.

Scotland failed to keep cool heads in the searing Skopje heat and it remains to be seen whether they can catch fire in Iceland.

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However, history has been kind to them against Iceland, with four wins from four meetings.

Paul McStay with a double and a goal from Charlie Nicholas gave the Scots a 3-0 win at Hampden in 1984 in a World Cup qualifier.

And Jim Bett scored the only goal of the game the following May in Reykjavik.

Berti Vogts enjoyed success when he took his side to Iceland in October 2002, for a Euro 2004 qualifier.

Goals from Christian Dailly and Gary Naysmith secured a 2-0 victory and went some way to healing bruised Scottish egos following the abysmal 2-2 draw with the minnows of the Faroe Islands the month before.

In the return at Hampden, Kenny Miller netted on his competitive debut before Gudjohnsen levelled with a neat lob. A nervous win was sealed when Lee Wilkie headed home from a Paul Devlin cross.

Saturday's defeat by Macedonia was maybe not on the same scale as the Faroes debacle, but Burley will be keen to register his first win on Wednesday.

Iceland manager Olafur Johannesson is eyeing a win over Scotland

Anything less than a victory would leave the Scots struggling to reach the 17 points targeted by the manager before the campaign started.

Gudjohnsen, 29, is Iceland's leading goalscorer and Scotland's defence will have to be at their best to nullify his attacking threat.

Elsewhere in Iceland's line-up, Scotland fans will be familiar with captain and Portsmouth defender Herman Hreidarsson, who has earned 77 caps for the national side and worked under Burley when they were both at Ipswich.

Right-back Gretar Steinsson is starring for Bolton this season and loves to get forward, while midfielder Aron Gunnarsson currently plies his trade with Championship outfit Coventry City.

With Netherlands regarded as strong favourites to top Group Nine, Scotland, Iceland, Norway and Macedonia will be vying for second place.

Johannesson, who masterminded Hafnarfjordur's Uefa Cup victory over Dunfermline four years ago, has said victory against Scotland would be a greater managerial achievement.

Working as a carpenter at the time, Johannesson's team of part-timers embarrassed the Pars over two legs.

Burley's men will travel to the country that gave the world the musical talents of Bjork and Sigur Rós determined to ensure their World Cup qualifying campaign doesn't hit another bum note.