---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are a small nation that nobody expects…"
description: "\"We are a small nation that nobody expects anything of.\" — Gylfi Sigurdsson"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/523/gylfi-sigurdsson-12794_anything_we-are-a-small-nation-that-nobody-expect_335758.jpg"
---

#  We are a small nation that nobody expects anything of.

![“We are a small nation that nobody expects anything of.” quote by Gylfi Sigurdsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/523/gylfi-sigurdsson-12794_anything_we-are-a-small-nation-that-nobody-expect_335758.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/523/gylfi-sigurdsson-12794_anything_we-are-a-small-nation-that-nobody-expect_335758.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/523/gylfi-sigurdsson-12794_anything_we-are-a-small-nation-that-nobody-expect_335758.jpg)

> “We are a small nation that nobody expects anything of.”

[Gylfi Sigurdsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gylfi-sigurdsson/)

## About This Quote

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

A small nation can exceed expectations despite limited resources.

**In simple terms:** Small nations can surprise.

Key Takeaway

Leverage unity and determination.

Themes

national pride underdog expectations determination teamwork

Mood

inspirational pragmatic

Type

sports motivational

When to use this quote

- international tournaments
- team building
- community events

Key Concepts

psychology of sport collective identity resourcefulness

Questions to Reflect On

- How can a team stay grounded?
- What strategies boost confidence?

A Different Perspective

Pressure can be overwhelming for few players.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Nation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nation/)

## Related quotes

> [Denmark is a small nation of five million people, but our economy is completely dependent on our commercial fleet. Every family has some connection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-lindholm/denmark-is-a-small-nation-of-five-million-people-but-our-economy-is/)

[Tobias Lindholm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-lindholm/)

> [However much we may sympathize with a small nation confronted by a big and powerful neighbours, we cannot in all circumstances undertake to involve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neville-chamberlain/however-much-we-may-sympathize-with-a-small-nation-confronted-by-a-2/)

[Neville Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neville-chamberlain/)

> [We shall always be a small minority in the world, but, when a small nation accomplishes something with its limited means, what it achieves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomas-garrigue-masaryk/we-shall-always-be-a-small-minority-in-the-world-but-when-a-small/)

[Tomas Garrigue Masaryk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tomas-garrigue-masaryk/)

> [England's a small nation, and the pop music industry is built on fashion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-brown/england-s-a-small-nation-and-the-pop-music-industry-is-built-on/)

[Ian Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-brown/)

> [Could he not find in his heart the generosity to acknowledge that there is a small nation that stood alone not for one year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eamon-de-valera/could-he-not-find-in-his-heart-the-generosity-to-acknowledge-that/)

[Eamon de Valera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eamon-de-valera/)

> [A small nation can fight a superpower with determination and dedication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/velupillai-prabhakaran/a-small-nation-can-fight-a-superpower-with-determination-and/)

[Velupillai Prabhakaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/velupillai-prabhakaran/)

> [Before peace between the nations, we have to find peace inside that small nation which is our own being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/before-peace-between-the-nations-we-have-to-find-peace-inside-that/)

[B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/)

> [“The nationalism of a small nation can, with treacherous ease, become detached from its roots in what is noble and human. It then become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vasily-grossman/the-nationalism-of-a-small-nation-can-with-treacherous-ease-become/)

[Vasily Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vasily-grossman/)

> [We are a small nation, but strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moshe-dayan/we-are-a-small-nation-but-strong/)

[Moshe Dayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moshe-dayan/)

> [A small nation, faced with the denial of its sovereignty — indeed, of its very existence — reminded us that the price of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/a-small-nation-faced-with-the-denial-of-its-sovereignty-indeed-of-its/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

> [We must break out of this mindset in Australia that we are a small nation on the other side of the world from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-brandis/we-must-break-out-of-this-mindset-in-australia-that-we-are-a-small/)

[George Brandis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-brandis/)

> [“A nation which expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, expects that which never was and never will be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-nation-which-expects-to-be-ignorant-and-free-in-a-state-of/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [A nation that expects the government to prevent churches from burning, to control the price of bread or gasoline, to secure every job, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-niskanen/a-nation-that-expects-the-government-to-prevent-churches-from-burning/)

William A. Niskanen

> [The exploration of space will go ahead, whether we join in it or not, and it is one of the great adventures of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-exploration-of-space-will-go-ahead-whether-we-join-in-it-or-not/)

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

> [If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/if-a-nation-expects-to-be-ignorant-and-free-in-a-state-of/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

## More by Gylfi Sigurdsson

> [I eat healthy and train.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gylfi-sigurdsson/i-eat-healthy-and-train/)

[Gylfi Sigurdsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gylfi-sigurdsson/)

> [I'd rather play golf than go on to Wikipedia!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gylfi-sigurdsson/i-d-rather-play-golf-than-go-on-to-wikipedia/)

[Gylfi Sigurdsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gylfi-sigurdsson/)

> [I had a fantastic manager in Ralf Rangnick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gylfi-sigurdsson/i-had-a-fantastic-manager-in-ralf-rangnick/)

[Gylfi Sigurdsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gylfi-sigurdsson/)

> [Of course, as a young boy it was always my dream to either go to the Premier League or the Bundesliga.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gylfi-sigurdsson/of-course-as-a-young-boy-it-was-always-my-dream-to-either-go-to-the/)

[Gylfi Sigurdsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gylfi-sigurdsson/)

> [Tottenham have always played fantastic football. I remember watching them many years ago when I was younger, and they'd concede three but they'd score…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gylfi-sigurdsson/tottenham-have-always-played-fantastic-football-i-remember-watching/)

[Gylfi Sigurdsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gylfi-sigurdsson/)

> [I think every professional player wants to play every game and every minute because you never know when you're going to get a chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gylfi-sigurdsson/i-think-every-professional-player-wants-to-play-every-game-and-every/)

[Gylfi Sigurdsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gylfi-sigurdsson/)

> [I always played football as a kid and never really thought about anything else. I always wanted to do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gylfi-sigurdsson/i-always-played-football-as-a-kid-and-never-really-thought-about/)

[Gylfi Sigurdsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gylfi-sigurdsson/)

> [It is good for the morale of the team when you see top players being brought in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gylfi-sigurdsson/it-is-good-for-the-morale-of-the-team-when-you-see-top-players-being/)

[Gylfi Sigurdsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gylfi-sigurdsson/)

> [My dad played in Iceland and I think went over to Sweden for a couple of years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gylfi-sigurdsson/my-dad-played-in-iceland-and-i-think-went-over-to-sweden-for-a-couple/)

[Gylfi Sigurdsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gylfi-sigurdsson/)

> [I'm not going to lie, living in London is incredible. You've got so much going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gylfi-sigurdsson/i-m-not-going-to-lie-living-in-london-is-incredible-you-ve-got-so/)

[Gylfi Sigurdsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gylfi-sigurdsson/)

> [You can understand why it is difficult for the players who have long-term injuries when they have to watch the boys going out training…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gylfi-sigurdsson/you-can-understand-why-it-is-difficult-for-the-players-who-have-long/)

[Gylfi Sigurdsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gylfi-sigurdsson/)

> [All of the players want to play in the Premier League. I think it's about being in the right place at the right time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gylfi-sigurdsson/all-of-the-players-want-to-play-in-the-premier-league-i-think-it-s/)

[Gylfi Sigurdsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gylfi-sigurdsson/)

> [I don't really mind where I play, as long as I'm playing. I'm just happy to be on the pitch - as long as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gylfi-sigurdsson/i-don-t-really-mind-where-i-play-as-long-as-i-m-playing-i-m-just/)

[Gylfi Sigurdsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gylfi-sigurdsson/)

> [Being a linesman is probably the hardest job in football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gylfi-sigurdsson/being-a-linesman-is-probably-the-hardest-job-in-football/)

[Gylfi Sigurdsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gylfi-sigurdsson/)

> [If you get a few successive games you are going to get in to your stride and once you start playing more you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gylfi-sigurdsson/if-you-get-a-few-successive-games-you-are-going-to-get-in-to-your/)

[Gylfi Sigurdsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gylfi-sigurdsson/)

[Explore all 53 Gylfi Sigurdsson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gylfi-sigurdsson/)

## More Anything quotes

> [I guess I've never really wanted to be anything else. I've never even thought about having another job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-farrell/i-guess-i-ve-never-really-wanted-to-be-anything-else-i-ve-never-even/)

[Owen Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-farrell/)

> [I would give anything to be able to kick a ball with my son or read the kids a bedtime story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-burrow/i-would-give-anything-to-be-able-to-kick-a-ball-with-my-son-or-read/)

[Rob Burrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-burrow/)

> [Comfort food is really anything you want at that time. That said, I really love Naple-style pizza.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-zakarian/comfort-food-is-really-anything-you-want-at-that-time-that-said-i/)

[Geoffrey Zakarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-zakarian/)

> [I haven't shut any doors, and I'm really open to anything, so I think it's just about the material and what is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-panabaker/i-haven-t-shut-any-doors-and-i-m-really-open-to-anything-so-i-think/)

[Danielle Panabaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-panabaker/)

> [When it really comes down to it, the job you do is more important and is more representative of who you are than your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/when-it-really-comes-down-to-it-the-job-you-do-is-more-important-and/)

[Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/)

> [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/)

[Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/)

> [I never did drama at school. I did it for one term, when it was compulsory, and I hated it. Tennis was the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-mitchell/i-never-did-drama-at-school-i-did-it-for-one-term-when-it-was/)

[Luke Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-mitchell/)

> [We live in such a special time when literally anything we can think of is possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-willey/we-live-in-such-a-special-time-when-literally-anything-we-can-think/)

[Daniel Willey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-willey/)

> [You know, I'm from Baltimore; nobody has anything. When somebody had talent, I was hiring my uncle, my cousin, you know? Getting people that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sisqo/you-know-i-m-from-baltimore-nobody-has-anything-when-somebody-had/)

[Sisqo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sisqo/)

> [I said to my agent, 'I want short, sharp, well-paid jobs because I haven't got time for anything else.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-whitelaw/i-said-to-my-agent-i-want-short-sharp-well-paid-jobs-because-i-haven/)

[Billie Whitelaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-whitelaw/)

> [I think anything that anyone writes thats any good is going to have a lot of autobiography.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-adly-guirgis/i-think-anything-that-anyone-writes-thats-any-good-is-going-to-have-a/)

[Stephen Adly Guirgis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-adly-guirgis/)

> [If the Bible is correct, and the Earth is only 6,000 years old, that means there were no dinosaurs, and museum curators have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-shock/if-the-bible-is-correct-and-the-earth-is-only-6-000-years-old-that/)

[Ron Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-shock/)

> [Don't do anything drastic like getting your eyebrows tattooed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-lee/don-t-do-anything-drastic-like-getting-your-eyebrows-tattooed/)

[Greta Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-lee/)

> [Whenever you define family as anything other than a man and a woman married together, you have just introduced an ethical nightmare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-evans/whenever-you-define-family-as-anything-other-than-a-man-and-a-woman/)

[Tony Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-evans/)

> [No lusting after your neighbor's house - or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don't set your heart on anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses/no-lusting-after-your-neighbor-s-house-or-wife-or-servant-or-maid-or/)

[Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses/)

Browse all 9,437 Anything quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "We are a small nation that nobody expects anything of.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Gylfi Sigurdsson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gylfi-sigurdsson/we-are-a-small-nation-that-nobody-expects-anything-of/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Anything"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gylfi-sigurdsson/we-are-a-small-nation-that-nobody-expects-anything-of/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/523/gylfi-sigurdsson-12794_anything_we-are-a-small-nation-that-nobody-expect_335758.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/523/gylfi-sigurdsson-12794_anything_we-are-a-small-nation-that-nobody-expect_335758.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/523/gylfi-sigurdsson-12794_anything_we-are-a-small-nation-that-nobody-expect_335758.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We are a small nation that nobody expects anything of.” — Gylfi Sigurdsson",
                "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": "Gylfi Sigurdsson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gylfi-sigurdsson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "We are a small nation that...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gylfi-sigurdsson/we-are-a-small-nation-that-nobody-expects-anything-of/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gylfi-sigurdsson/we-are-a-small-nation-that-nobody-expects-anything-of/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
