Kari Arnason

“We are all over the moon but it has not really sunk in yet to be honest. I don’t think we have really realised just what we have achieved. What makes it even more remarkable is that we have come through such a strong group as well.

“There was pressure on us. the boys were nervous game going into the last game as it was such a massive moment for the country. No one wanted to be the player who let the nation down.

“There was more demand on us after doing so well in the Euros. The expectation levels are definitely higher. But we also have to face reality, we are only a population of around 300,000. To get the results we did and to qualify is quite an achievement.

“I have been written off because of my age for quite a long time now! But I feel as fit as I have ever been. It is my biggest achievement in football, no doubt about that.

“No matter who you are or what teams you have played for, playing at a World Cup is the biggest honour you can have.

“Not so long ago this was unimageable.

“I was part of an Iceland team that could not win a game.

“The turnaround started when Lars (Lagerbäck) came in about in 2011.

“We had Icelandic managers and a lot of it was the same from manager to manger and the results never got better. Once we got Lars in, he structured the team in a way that we have never seen before. He had key things we needed to concentrate on. If we did not follow what he said you were dropped. It was as simple as that.

“You need to find your strengths and play to them.

“We have a game plan with Iceland. We stick to that plan and we do not move away from that plan. Even if the game is not going our way or we concede a goal, we stick to doing what we know best. We look to do well at set pieces and try and use the counter attack. We can soak up pressure. We try and bring the game down to our level and play the game on our terms. And that is what we are very successful at.

“We have a group of players who are not playing for the biggest sides in the World. We have one international star but he is the one who works the hardest. That rubs off on the rest of us. We all work for each other. We are also all good friends out of football. We stay in touch in between games. We are doing it for each other.

“I want to make sure I am as fit as I can be going ion the world cup but my focus now is 100% on Aberdeen now and trying to have a good season in the league and doing well in the Scottish Cup.

“At Aberdeen we go into every game to win it and I think we have a team to challenge for at the top of the table and hopefully we can continue. We are still unbeaten in the league and we want to keep that record going. It is difficult. We are playing some very good teams this month but we are well up for it.

“Hibs have done really well since coming up from the Championship. We have to respect what they are good at. But we need to try and force our game on them.

“We had a really good performance last time out against St Johnstone. The Motherwell league game was important. We showed that afternoon that we can grind it out as well. We played some good stuff against St Johnstone and I think we are definitely moving in the right direction.

“We had a really good performance last time out against St Johnstone. The Motherwell league game was important. We showed that afternoon that we can grind it out as well. We played some good stuff against St Johnstone and I think we are definitely moving in the right direction.