Remarkable story, Iceland’s. A population the size of Leicester (around 300,000), ten per cent of which is in France to see their country compete in a major tournament for the first time.
And in a season where Leicester won the English Premier League, why the hell can’t Iceland knock over England next week, and go even further into Euro 2016?
You can’t just defend, they said. Your luck will run out, they said. You’re only here to make up the numbers, they said.
Now that the hyper-snobbery of the tiki-taka generation has passed and there is a more general acceptance of different ways to play successful football (thank you, Leicester!), it’s time to accept that, you know what, you can win like this.
England dominated against Russia, Wales and Slovakia (just ask them…) and for what? Five points.
Iceland have been dominated possession-wise by Portugal, Hungary and Austria. For what? Five points!
There’s absolutely no reason Iceland can’t knock over England next week.
Roy Hodgson bristled at the suggestion that England were struggling to break down teams and said in the knockout stages his side would be fine – proper teams won’t sit back and just defend, he said.
Well, Roy, you’re out of luck.
Iceland will defend, like their very lives depend on it, as they have for the last 270 minutes. To a man they have headed crosses away, flung themselves in front of shots from near and far, and Hannes Halldorsson has proved a far better goalkeeper than film director.
They’ve proven too in their three games that they can score goals.
At Euro 2004, a Greece side containing Angelos Charisteas, Kostas Katsouranis, Theo Zagorakis, Michalis Kapsis and Antonis Nikopolidis beat a Portugal side with Deco, Cristiano Ronaldo, Pauleta and Luis Figo – twice.
They were efficient, hard working and organised. Just like Iceland.
Sure, Iceland have landed themselves in the much tougher side of the draw.
But England, Spain, Italy and Germany have all flattered to deceive so far, while Iceland have stuck rigidly to their methodically prepared gameplan, no surprise given co-coach Heimir Hallgrimson is a dentist by trade.
Iceland were never prepared just to show up and take the pats on the back merely for being there.
They beat the Netherlands home and away in qualifying, lest we forget, and have shown in the group stage they are a force to be reckoned with.
In a year when Leicester won the league, who says Iceland can’t win the Euros?
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