T&T’s Jonathan Glenn is not at all surprised at Iceland’s success at Euro 2016.
Glenn is currently attached to Breidablik, one of Iceland’s more progressive clubs which has played a significant part in the country’s football development over the past decade or so.
Iceland’s 40-year-old goalkeeper Gunnleifur Gunnleifsson is a teammate of Glenn at Breidablik as well as players Gylfi Sigurosson, Johan Berg Gudmundsson and Alfred Finnbogason who all came through the ranks at Breidablik. Gunnleifsson was left out of the team’s final roster for the Euros but has played 26 times for the national team.
“Everyone was going crazy here in Iceland after the win over England,” Glenn said.
But the T&T forward was not entirely surprised over the team’s 2-1 win which was described as probably England’s biggest loss at a major tournament.
“They easily got through their group in qualifying with two games in hand against the likes of Netherlands, Czech Republic and Turkey, so even though it’s their first major tournament based on their progress in the last few years it’s not that big of a surprise they are at this point now,” Glenn added.
“In addition the infrastructure and coaching in Iceland has come a long way in the last ten years and it’s what everyone is saying has been the reason all their national teams are doing really well now. I really enjoy being part of the set up here. This is like my second home now,” Glenn said.
When Dadi Rafnsson, Breidablik’s director of coaching, looks out onto the indoor pitch situated behind his office, he sees 10 different games and training sessions taking place. The club is a shining example of everything that has happened since 2000, when the first of Iceland’s Bodo-styled indoor halls was opened in Keflavik, 25 miles from Reykjavik.
Glenn scored in T&T’s 3-3 draw with Mexico last year and is looking to make return to the national side for the upcoming 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Guatemala and the US on September 2nd and 6th.