“Scandanavian” Championship XI 2010/2011
As I’m sure everyone is well aware the Premier League is jam packed with foreigners from all corners of the globe. This practice has filtered down to the lower leagues, so I thought I’d begin a series on foreign XIs in the Football League with this one on “Scandanavian” players in the Championship. My definition of Scandanavian will probably anger some, but I’m including Iceland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland in my criteria.
Championship Scandanavian XI 2010/2011 season
In goal I’ve opted for Brian Jensen (Denmark/Burnley). It was quite a difficult choice as fellow Dane Kasper Schmeichel has been in decent form for Leeds United this season. The defence consists of an Icelander Hermann Hreidarsson of Portsmouth, Dane Jens Askou of Norwich/Millwall and veteran Icelandic international Ivar Ingimarsson of Reading.
I couldn’t resist putting Icelandic pair Gunnarsson (B) of Reading and Gunarsson (A) of Coventry City together in the centre of midfield. The three more advanced midfielders chosen were Norweigian triumvirate Abdisalam Ibriham of Scunthorpe United and Erik Tonne & Bjørn Helge Riise of relegated Sheffield United.
A strikeforce of Norwegian Steffan Iversen of Crystal Palace and QPR’s Icelandic centre-forward Heidar Helgusson.