---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you play for Iceland I don't think…"
description: "\"When you play for Iceland I don't think there is often such a thing as a must-win game.\" — Eidur Gudjohnsen"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/eidur-gudjohnsen-6376_game_when-you-play-for-iceland-i-don-t-think_1098249.jpg"
---

#  When you play for Iceland I don't think there is often…

![“When you play for Iceland I don't think there is often such a thing as a must-win game.” quote by Eidur Gudjohnsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/eidur-gudjohnsen-6376_game_when-you-play-for-iceland-i-don-t-think_1098249.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/eidur-gudjohnsen-6376_game_when-you-play-for-iceland-i-don-t-think_1098249.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/eidur-gudjohnsen-6376_game_when-you-play-for-iceland-i-don-t-think_1098249.jpg)

> “When you play for Iceland I don't think there is often such a thing as a must-win game.”

[Eidur Gudjohnsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eidur-gudjohnsen/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Winning isn’t always essential; focus on performance and growth rather than pressure.

**In simple terms:** Winning isn’t always essential.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize growth over pressure.

Themes

sports mindset competition

Mood

reflective balanced

Type

sports motivational

When to use this quote

- team sports
- personal development
- coaching sessions

Key Concepts

performance pressure win‑or‑lose mentality

Questions to Reflect On

- How does pressure affect your play?
- When is a “must‑win” mindset harmful?

A Different Perspective

Some may argue that competitive drive fuels excellence.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/game/) [Iceland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/iceland/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Play Iceland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play-iceland-2874421/) [Such a thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/such-a-thing/) [Thing Win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-win-284605/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Win Game](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/win-game/)

## Related quotes

> [What's a one person wrestling company? There's not such a thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-khan/what-s-a-one-person-wrestling-company-there-s-not-such-a-thing/)

[Tony Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-khan/)

> [There is such a thing as commonsense middle-ground gun reform, and most gun owners support it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-quigley/there-is-such-a-thing-as-commonsense-middle-ground-gun-reform-and/)

[Mike Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-quigley/)

> [I reject the notion of a post-truth area. I don't believe there is such a thing, and we shouldn't accept that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/i-reject-the-notion-of-a-post-truth-area-i-don-t-believe-there-is/)

[Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/)

> [I don't think there's such a thing as a 'best' drummer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-portnoy/i-don-t-think-there-s-such-a-thing-as-a-best-drummer/)

[Mike Portnoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-portnoy/)

> [In the ghetto we didn't even know there was such a thing as a private jet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riddick-bowe/in-the-ghetto-we-didn-t-even-know-there-was-such-a-thing-as-a-private/)

[Riddick Bowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riddick-bowe/)

> [There isn't such a thing as death. It's just a departure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-edmonds/there-isn-t-such-a-thing-as-death-it-s-just-a-departure/)

[Noel Edmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-edmonds/)

> [There is such a thing as too much fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-ball/there-is-such-a-thing-as-too-much-fun/)

[Zoe Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-ball/)

> [Is there such a thing as a normal childhood?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-hahn/is-there-such-a-thing-as-a-normal-childhood/)

[Hilary Hahn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-hahn/)

> [There's such a thing as retribution in sports.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mikan/there-s-such-a-thing-as-retribution-in-sports/)

[George Mikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mikan/)

> [There's such a thing as a tribe - and family of choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-gauthier/there-s-such-a-thing-as-a-tribe-and-family-of-choice/)

[Mary Gauthier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-gauthier/)

> [I don't think there is such a thing as a bad book for children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-don-t-think-there-is-such-a-thing-as-a-bad-book-for-children/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [I really don't think there's such a thing as an ex-policeman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-farina/i-really-don-t-think-there-s-such-a-thing-as-an-ex-policeman/)

[Dennis Farina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-farina/)

> [Games in hand are a good thing only if you win them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-marleau/games-in-hand-are-a-good-thing-only-if-you-win-them/)

[Patrick Marleau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-marleau/)

> [My No. 1 thing is to win a World Series. The rest comes as it comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mookie-betts/my-no-1-thing-is-to-win-a-world-series-the-rest-comes-as-it-comes/)

[Mookie Betts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mookie-betts/)

> [The best thing is the win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wall/the-best-thing-is-the-win/)

[John Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wall/)

## More by Eidur Gudjohnsen

> [It's not easy to teach what comes naturally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eidur-gudjohnsen/it-s-not-easy-to-teach-what-comes-naturally/)

[Eidur Gudjohnsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eidur-gudjohnsen/)

> [I've obviously worked with a lot of top managers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eidur-gudjohnsen/i-ve-obviously-worked-with-a-lot-of-top-managers/)

[Eidur Gudjohnsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eidur-gudjohnsen/)

> [I have always said it is good to come to Scotland and play. There is always a lot of atmosphere at the games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eidur-gudjohnsen/i-have-always-said-it-is-good-to-come-to-scotland-and-play-there-is/)

[Eidur Gudjohnsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eidur-gudjohnsen/)

> [It has felt like a natural development to move to midfield. If there is a pass on, I will play it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eidur-gudjohnsen/it-has-felt-like-a-natural-development-to-move-to-midfield-if-there/)

[Eidur Gudjohnsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eidur-gudjohnsen/)

> [In France I just didn't enjoy it. I didn't connect to my surroundings and didn't adapt to French football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eidur-gudjohnsen/in-france-i-just-didn-t-enjoy-it-i-didn-t-connect-to-my-surroundings/)

[Eidur Gudjohnsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eidur-gudjohnsen/)

> [Barcelona are always used to having the best, most talented attacking players in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eidur-gudjohnsen/barcelona-are-always-used-to-having-the-best-most-talented-attacking/)

[Eidur Gudjohnsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eidur-gudjohnsen/)

> [The manager can be criticised by the media for doing this or doing that, but it's all a matter of opinions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eidur-gudjohnsen/the-manager-can-be-criticised-by-the-media-for-doing-this-or-doing/)

[Eidur Gudjohnsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eidur-gudjohnsen/)

> [The main differences are their characters. Mourinho is more of a character than Guardiola. In a confrontation Mourinho would square-up and Guardiola would rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eidur-gudjohnsen/the-main-differences-are-their-characters-mourinho-is-more-of-a/)

[Eidur Gudjohnsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eidur-gudjohnsen/)

> [I just try to use my experience. That's what you do when you come to the end of your career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eidur-gudjohnsen/i-just-try-to-use-my-experience-that-s-what-you-do-when-you-come-to/)

[Eidur Gudjohnsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eidur-gudjohnsen/)

> [Sometimes the games just pan out that way. One team is putting pressure on the other and when you are under pressure, you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eidur-gudjohnsen/sometimes-the-games-just-pan-out-that-way-one-team-is-putting/)

[Eidur Gudjohnsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eidur-gudjohnsen/)

> [Barcelona Football Club is the heartbeat of the city. We win games and everybody is happy, there's a smile on people's faces. We don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eidur-gudjohnsen/barcelona-football-club-is-the-heartbeat-of-the-city-we-win-games-and/)

[Eidur Gudjohnsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eidur-gudjohnsen/)

> [I have been the biggest fan of Paul Scholes and I am sure that Scholes at his best could play in the Barcelona team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eidur-gudjohnsen/i-have-been-the-biggest-fan-of-paul-scholes-and-i-am-sure-that/)

[Eidur Gudjohnsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eidur-gudjohnsen/)

> [I will have this feeling of wanting to play until my dying day, but physically it's not there anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eidur-gudjohnsen/i-will-have-this-feeling-of-wanting-to-play-until-my-dying-day-but/)

[Eidur Gudjohnsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eidur-gudjohnsen/)

> [I don't know how other people see it, but I can't see United without Alex Ferguson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eidur-gudjohnsen/i-don-t-know-how-other-people-see-it-but-i-can-t-see-united-without/)

[Eidur Gudjohnsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eidur-gudjohnsen/)

> [I can easily see how young people can get sucked into gambling and I am happy to stand up as a warning to others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eidur-gudjohnsen/i-can-easily-see-how-young-people-can-get-sucked-into-gambling-and-i/)

[Eidur Gudjohnsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eidur-gudjohnsen/)

[Explore all 99 Eidur Gudjohnsen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eidur-gudjohnsen/)

## More Football quotes

> [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/)

[Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/)

> [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/)

[Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/)

> [There are guys who play lacrosse, and there are lacrosse players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-mundorf/there-are-guys-who-play-lacrosse-and-there-are-lacrosse-players/)

[Brendan Mundorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-mundorf/)

> [Giggs is the realest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kaluuya/giggs-is-the-realest/)

[Daniel Kaluuya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kaluuya/)

> [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/)

[Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/)

> [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/)

[Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/)

> [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/)

[Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/)

> [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/)

[Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/)

> [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/)

[Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/)

> [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/)

[Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/)

> [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/)

[Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/)

> [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/)

[Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/)

> [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/)

[Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/)

> [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/)

[Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/)

> [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/)

[Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/)

[Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When you play for Iceland I don't think there is often such a thing as a must-win game.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Eidur Gudjohnsen"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eidur-gudjohnsen/when-you-play-for-iceland-i-don-t-think-there-is-often-such-a-thing/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Football"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eidur-gudjohnsen/when-you-play-for-iceland-i-don-t-think-there-is-often-such-a-thing/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/eidur-gudjohnsen-6376_game_when-you-play-for-iceland-i-don-t-think_1098249.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/eidur-gudjohnsen-6376_game_when-you-play-for-iceland-i-don-t-think_1098249.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f7/eidur-gudjohnsen-6376_game_when-you-play-for-iceland-i-don-t-think_1098249.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When you play for Iceland I don't think there is often such a thing as a must-win game.” — Eidur Gudjohnsen",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Eidur Gudjohnsen",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eidur-gudjohnsen/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When you play for Iceland I...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eidur-gudjohnsen/when-you-play-for-iceland-i-don-t-think-there-is-often-such-a-thing/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eidur-gudjohnsen/when-you-play-for-iceland-i-don-t-think-there-is-often-such-a-thing/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
