As France’s ‘titanic’ squad clashed head on with the iceberg of Euro 2016, the home team sprung up a performance ensuring their safe passage to the next round of the competition. Yet the boys from Iceland can garner much pride and gratification amidst their commiserations. Considered by most as one of the teams to be knocked out at the group stage, Iceland held their own and made a name for themselves on Europe’s top stage.
In a post-match interview following his Wales team’s convincing Group B victory over Russia, in describing his side’s performance on the night, coach Chris Coleman asserted that, “As a nation geographically we’re small, but judging us on passion then we could be described as a continent”. The same sentiment can be shared for the Icelandic team, who from game one represented their country with a passion that seemingly could deliver victory under any circumstance.
A Nordic island nation with a population of 330, 000, Iceland had never qualified for a major tournament in their footballing history. Famous for its landscape, blue ice, black sand beaches and picturesque waterfalls, the country is renown as a tourist attraction. The same can’t be said in terms of footballing prowess. Until a few years ago, children could only play football during their brief summer, (which would be considered winter anywhere else around the world) until indoor facilities were introduced. Their national stadium located in the capital of Reykjavik, has seating to accommodate only 10,000.
So how does one find a reasonable explanation for this little country coming just one win short of qualifying for World Cup 2014? And two years on, qualifying for Euro 2016 in second place only two points behind group A leaders Czech Republic. Good fortune cannot suffice, as the Nordic side impressed in a tough group defeating the Czech Republic and Turkey at home, the Netherlands both home and away, among other substantial results totalling six wins, two losses and two draws; demolishing the Euro aspirations of both the Netherlands and Turkey, who are considered powerhouses compared to the Icelanders.
Coming into the Euro2016 campaign, their work was well cut out, as they were drawn into Group F along with Portugal, Hungary and Austria. But the boys carried their determination and grit along into the Euros. Facing Portugal in their first ever tournament encounter, they managed to find an equalizer versus Cristiano Ronaldo’s side through a delightful volleyed finish from Birkir Bjarnason. The hard earned point cued celebrations from the players and fans, emphasizing the magnitude of the result and how far they have come as a footballing nation.
Facing Hungary in their following match, they produced a much more commanding and convincing performance, leading the encounter by a goal to nil for the majority of the match only to be denied the three points by a late own goal.
They would not be denied in their final game versus Austria. Arnor Ingvi Traustason gave the country of Iceland even more reason to dream, as he scored a 90th minute winner securing their place in the next round with 5 points, only second to Hungary on goal differential.
The task got ever more daunting with their progression into the round of 16 as they clashed with England. It seemed to be going wrong for Iceland as England applied early pressure and were awarded a penalty which was calmly dispatched by captain Wayne Rooney giving his team the 1-0 lead. But Iceland continued to show their resilience as they came from behind to score two goals of their own, to earn the 2-1 result. The ‘Three Lions’ had been tamed and humbled, as they sank to one of their most humiliating defeats in their history.
The Portugal result was huge but this England victory was monumental. Following the final whistle, the team, led by Captain Aron Gunnarsson, engaged their fans in a celebration referred to as “The Viking chant”, where the supporters clap and shout in unison. They start off slow and gradually increase the pace until it is capped off with a thunderous echo. The celebration took the tournament by storm, as Iceland and its fans looked forward to a showdown against the hosts France.
Some argue whether it was nerves, or whether the Iceland team paid France too much respect on the day; maybe it was just how the tale was to end. But As Iceland faced the tournament favourites, they found themselves 4-0 down inside the first half. Nonetheless, they picked themselves up and showed the world why they were playing in a quarterfinal, and notched up two well worked goals, as they exited the competition with their heads held high.
The smallest nation in terms of population, they brought the biggest energy to the Euros, not only taking their opponents by storm but rendering a blizzard among Euro Fans for their passion, team spirit, patriotism and most of all excellence. If World Cup 2014 qualifying did not lead persons to take them seriously, then their Euro 2016 showing has forced the world to stop and take note.
This Iceland group left their country as footballers, but return as national heroes. Many of them, who were virtually unknown to the footballing world, have created a solid platform for their careers. Others like poster boy and Premier Star Gylfi Sigurdsson, Iceland’s tournament top scorer and Basel midfielder Birkir Bjarnason, captain and Cardiff City’s Aron Gunnarsson, along with the remaining few who apply their trade in the top leagues of Europe, have risen their stock considerably following this tournament.
Their victory chant is characterized as a unified, appalling clap, intended to get opponents to recognize and beware. But their Euro 2016 campaign has done much more than that; ensuring that they attain the respect of the worldwide football audience, along with their ’round of applause’.
