Reykjavík Grapevine - 06.06.2008, Síða 20

20 | Reykjavík Grapevine | Issue 07 2008 | Article
Since the last issue of Reykjavik Grapevine, both
the men’s and women’s national soccer teams
have played matches. The men met up with
the boys of Wales in a friendly match, with no
special significance attached. In short the match
was dull, with neither team showing anything
special. Wales managed a goal at the end of the
first half and the not so interested Icelandic team
didn’t use the second half to equalise. A loss
to Wales does not bode well for the upcoming
qualifying games for the 2010 World Cup finals.
But then again this was to be expected from the
Icelandic team which seem to be going trough a
longer than usual slump.
The women went to Serbia for a game in the
European Cup qualifying round. The Icelandic
team is in a heat with France, Slovenia, Greece
and Serbia. The match went exceptionally well
for the Icelanders, ending with a 0-4 win. After 5
games, Iceland is in second place with 12 points,
trailing France by 6 points, but the French have
played 2 more games. Slovenia is third with 9
points after 6 games. With the top team securing
a place for the finals in Finland 2009, and the
second place earning a chance in a qualifying
tournament played in October, the future for
the women’s team looks promising, at least a lot
more promising than for the men.
Women’s Premier League
On the local level the women’s premier league
is off to a predictable start. On the top Valur and
KR share the first and second place. Valur being
slightly in front, having scored an amazing 15
goals in three games, with only 2 goals conceded.
The rest of the teams, in the ten-team division, are
mostly around the middle, with the exception of
HK/Víkingur and Fjölnir at the bottom. Although
3 games is a small sample size, it looks as if these
2 teams will be relegated. Also, as was predicted
on the pages of this fine publication, the top
battle looks to be between Valur and KR, as has
often been the case in previous years.
Valur and KR square off on June 11th at
Valur’s home field, the Vodafone pitch at 19:15 for
a match that will surely both be exciting and fun
to watch. Prior to that KR welcomes third place
team Stjarnan on June 7th at 14:00 and Valur
ventures to Reykjanes to meet fourth place team
Keflavík at the same time.
Men’s Premier League
In the men’s league, newcomers Fjölnir are
showing some wear, losing their last two games,
first to the current champions Valur, in an
electrifying match 1-2, and then to the Kópavogur
team Breiðablik. Out of towners Keflavík, sitting
at the top after four rounds, also seem to be losing
their momentum, suffering a loss to Þróttur in the
fifth round.
Valur, last year’s champions, are off to a
shaky start earning only six points in five games
with a devastating loss against then bottom team
HK, 2-4 in the fifth round, and many supporters
are getting antsy, to say the least. The last years
haven’t really been fruitful for Valur, alternating
between premier league relegation and first
division promotion every other year. A very
welcome premier league championship last year
saw their supporters in high spirits. But if things
will not turn around soon, the fans will demand
the manager’s resignation.
Check www.soccerway.com for a full schedule of
both the men’s and women’s leagues.
Text by Páll Hilmarsson, sports commentator
The 12th Man - Diary of a Soccer Fan
WOMEN’S DIVISION
Team W D L Points
1 Valur 3 0 0 9
2 KR 3 0 0 9
3 Stjarnan 2 1 0 7
4 Keflavík 1 1 1 4
5 Breiðablik 1 1 1 4
6 Fylkir 1 0 2 3
7 Afturelding 1 0 2 3
8 Þór/KA 1 0 2 3
9 HK/Víkingur 0 1 2 1
10 Fjölnir 0 0 3 0
Living Museum by the Sea
R e y k j a v i k M a r i t i m e M u s e u m Open 11-17 every day
except Monday
The Maritime Museum has a
unique location at the west
end of the old fishing
harbour. There are
exhibitions on the evolution
of Icelanders’ fishing and
coastal culture.
The Coast Guard vessel
Ódinn is a part of the
museum. It took part in the
Cod Wars of the last century
and went on numerous
search and rescue missions.