Hakon Valdimarsson saved a penalty and earned praise from Iceland head coach Arnar Gunnlaugsson following a 1-1 Nations League draw with Estonia.
Hakon Valdimarsson earned praise from Iceland head coach Arnar Gunnlaugsson after the Brentford goalkeeper produced several important saves in a 1-1 draw with Estonia.
Iceland went ahead through Andri Guðjohnsen shortly before half-time, but Estonia had already caused problems and continued to do so after the restart. Valdimarsson's biggest intervention came early in the second half when he kept out Kevor Palumets' penalty with his side still leading.
Maksim Paskotsi eventually equalised in the 64th minute and Iceland were unable to find another goal, leaving Gunnlaugsson disappointed with a home draw to begin their Nations League campaign. His assessment of Valdimarsson was considerably more positive.
"He saved very well in the first half, a clear chance if I remember correctly, and then saved the penalty brilliantly," Gunnlaugsson told Vísir.
"We are fortunate to have several excellent goalkeepers and Hakon is at a club that operates at a very high level. He did his job very well."
Gunnlaugsson had spent much of his post-match interview discussing where Iceland had fallen short. Estonia's direct play had caused problems, while he felt his own side had made too many technical mistakes and failed to make enough of crossing positions. Valdimarsson was one of the individual performances he picked out amid that disappointment.
The goalkeeper himself was disappointed with the final result and Iceland's perfromance.
"Mainly just frustration," Valdimarsson told 433.is afterwards. "It wasn't quite good enough. It's frustrating that we didn't manage to win, and we need to look at the game, go through it and be ready for Tuesday."
He had gone into the match prepared to be tested, although not quite to the extent he eventually was. Asked whether he had expected Iceland to give up so many opportunities, Valdimarsson said he would have preferred a quieter afternoon.
"No, not really. Of course you're always ready, but I would have preferred us to have more control and give away fewer chances. They were pretty good chances for them."
The penalty save came from work done before the game rather than guesswork alone.
"We had gone over this player and were fairly sure where he was going to shoot," Valdimarsson said. "So well done to Fjalar for reading it well, and yeah, a good save."
Valdimarsson has had to wait for opportunities at Brentford this season following Caoimhin Kelleher's summer arrival, but the club made its plans for the Iceland international clear earlier this year.
He signed a new contract in April running until the summer of 2030, with Brentford holding an option for another two years. Keith Andrews described him at the time as an "outstanding goalkeeper" and said he was an important part of the club despite not always being one of the players in the starting XI.
Valdimarsson also spoke after signing that deal about working alongside Kelleher and Brentford goalkeeping coach Manu Sotelo, saying the standard of the group had helped him improve since arriving from Elfsborg in January 2024.
His first appearance of the international window ended without the win Iceland wanted, but Valdimarsson had already made his contribution to the point. He now turns his attention to Tuesday's game against Luxembourg, with Iceland still having three fixtures remaining before he reunites in the squad with West London.
