Dorrit Moussaieff, the Israeli First Lady of Iceland, was ecstatic over Iceland’s last-minute win against Austria in the 2016 UEFA European Championship on Wednesday which qualified the team for the round of 16.
“I’m so proud of our team. It is not by chance”, said the wife of Iceland’s president, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson.
“They are great fighters and we invest a lot in soccer from the age of four,” recounted Moussaieff regarding the team from the tiny country whose population stands at about 300,000, that has dazzled the championship.
“You have to understand that Iceland invests a great deal in its children and in creating a group atmosphere,” stated Moussaieff. “Iceland is unlike Israel when it comes to football.
When Iceland’s players work together they win. It’s an important lesson not only for Israel but to many countries.
One has to understand that there are only several thousand children in all of Iceland who play football, so the result is truly amazing.” She added, “I hope Israel will reach this point,and I would be very happy to help.”
Moussaieff holds Israeli, Icelandic and British citizenship. She watched the game during a visit to the United States, just before she returned home to Iceland.
“There is great joy in Iceland regarding this victory. We have another game in Nice against England, and I believe that we can win. If we beat Austria and Portugal – why not England?”
She pointed out that Iceland’s investment in soccer also includes girls. “We have wonderful female soccer players.
I really hope that Israel will finally achieve such a status. A big part of the victory depends on the way of thinking and on team spirit but truthfully, there is help from above as well.
I advise Israel to start investing in soccer from a very young age. I would be very happy to help Israel learn from Iceland’s experience.”
