“We are just trying to stay focussed on every game,” said Iceland coach Sigursteinn Arndal after his side defeated Saudi Arabia 48:24 on Wednesday, making it two wins out of two, after their opening day 36:27 victory against Argentina. The Saudi victory saw the Icelanders top Group D, with a 100% record.

“I believe that when you stay longer in a tournament you get results and get luck but you just have to be focussed the whole way through.

“We have a big squad and know we can rotate the team,” continued Arndal, explaining the opportunity the Saudi Arabia game provided to give bench players some playing time, including pivot Ellidi Vidarsson, right wing Thorgeir Davidsson and goalkeeper Viktor Hallgrimsson.

“In games like the Saudi Arabia one they can get confidence mostly and playing in a tournament in Africa, both on and off the court, is a big school for them.”

Ahead of the Algeria match later tonight, Arndal is excited about the atmosphere inside the arena and hopes that his players embrace the noise - which includes five fans from Iceland in amongst the 6,000 or so home fans.

“I expect a full house because that what we are looking forward to,” he said. “We expect a very difficult against a home team with 1000s of spectators behind them, but we are very glad for our spectators.”

Part of the travelling delegation is Icelandic handball royalty with former national team right back Olafur Stefansson assisting Arndal with coaching duties on the bench.

In a glittering career Stefansson won Olympic silver with Iceland in 2008, EHF EURO bronze in 2010 and numerous club titles including the EHF Champions League, IHF Super Globe and Spanish, Germany, Icelandic and Danish championships.

Anyone watching Iceland at Algeria 2017 will see Arndal stand up at one end of their bench and then later, Stefansson at the other end, part of a double act which the island nation hopes to take them all the way through to the final weekend.

“We work well together,” said Arndal about his coaching companion. “With all his experience and routines Olafur is a great guy for any team, so we are delighted to have him in our squad.

“It’s mostly me standing when we’re in defence and in attack he is pointing and standing - it’s a balance.”