Hang your heads in shame, Icelandic football players.
In the end, it was France that hammered home the final nail in the Icelander’s Euro 2016 coffin. Running out 5-2 winners in Paris, it was nothing more than the French side had deserved and was the hiding that Iceland had miraculously eluded on their previous four outings in the competition.
Having come away with just a point in their opener against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, the multi-Ballon D’Or winner rightly criticised the team for settling for a point in their European Championship debut.
For Lars Lagerbach and Heimir Hallgrímsson – who, let’s be honest, never really committed to his role having maintained his dentistry practice throughout his tenure – the embarrassment didn’t stop there.
Having drawn their second match, a fortuitous breakaway goal in stoppage time against Austria was enough for Iceland to make it into the last 16, although the Icelandic fans had to look on in horror as their side qualified as group runners-up behind Hungary.
Despite a dismal showing in the group stages, Iceland were fortunate to be facing a side in the last 16 that had badly under-performed at national tournaments for many a year. With just two minutes played in Nice, the horror show was threatening to continue as England took a lead from the penalty spot.
Had it not been for some inexperience shown from the English right back and an error from an awestruck goalkeeper – who works part-time as a model for a popular British shampoo brand – Iceland might not have managed to scrape past a side that has consistently underachieved since losing a penalty shootout to Germany in the semi-finals as hosts two decades ago.
Having overturned the penalty – scored by the relatively unknown £300,000-a-week Manchester United midfielder Wayne Rooney – Iceland showed little appetite to kill the game off and were lucky not to lose their lead when a thunderous Harry Kane free-kick whistled 20 yards wide of their post.
They could learn a thing or two from their brave, gutsy last 16 opponents whose group stage win over their more talented neighbours Wales will surely see them return home as heroes.
Finally, a lazy performance from them was punished by the hosts in a rain-drenched Paris. Understandably, viewers were appalled by a string of lacklustre performances.
Iceland could have easily scored 4 tonight. Such a brave team.
— block19 (@arseaboutface) July 3, 2016
Well done Iceland you have been spanked by France but given your fans something to cheer 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
— Chris Kamara (@chris_kammy) July 3, 2016
Iceland have my respect. What a team.
— WH (@Wilshoholic) July 3, 2016
https://twitter.com/pressmorgan/status/749706449756889088
https://twitter.com/Parky_92/status/749706361005600768
https://twitter.com/RealPaulSimpson/status/749706170378715138
You can only admire the spirit .the pride of a proud team.a proud nation,still giving it all -Bravo Iceland
— Raymond Blanc (@raymond_blanc) July 3, 2016
