Iceland is a tiny nation, with a population of around 330,000. It is the smallest nation to qualify for a major football tournament. EVER.
No one gave them a chance in a group that also featured Hungary, Portugal and Austria.
But hey, they must have received the memo that this is the year of the underdogs. A draw against Portugal (that pissed off Cristiano Ronaldo) and Hungary, and an exhilarating win against Austria later, ICELAND FINISH TOP OF THEIR GROUP!
Wow.
And if it feels incredible to us in India, far removed from the madness of European football, imagine how the Icelandic people must be reacting to this.
Actually, don’t imagine. Just listen for yourself, for this is how the Icelandic commentator described the late, late winner from Arnor Ingvi Traustason against Austria to seal Iceland’s place in the last 16 of Euro 2016.
Absolutely incredible. The emotion that only football can bring out!
The Iceland coach Hallgrimsson summed up the achievement perfectly.
“I would guess we will change the national holiday. It’s normally on June 17 [referring to Icelandic National Day which commemorates the country’s independence from Danish rule in 1944] but they will probably change it now. That’s how much (this result) means to us”
And this how Twitter reacted to the win:
Go on, Iceland! Keep giving us goosebumps!
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