Didier Deschamps’ side come into the last quarter-final at the Stade de France as the overwhelming favourites against a country with a population of just 330,000, and with a semi-final against Germany the reward for the winner.

Watch: The Stunning Iceland Journey At Euro 2016:

But Iceland have taken the competition by storm and proved their capabilities by stunning England in the last 16, coming from behind to win 2-1 in Nice.

“It’s not by chance Iceland have made it through,” France goalkeeper and captain Hugo Lloris said on Saturday.

“Iceland have had a great run since the beginning of the tournament. We have a lot of respect for Iceland, we watched their great performance against England and we won’t be surprised.”

The pressure is all on the hosts as they look to repeat their feats at the 1984 Euros and the 1998 World Cup by winning a major tournament on home soil, while Iceland come into the game just eager to savour the occasion.

Indeed, Icelandic fans have been desperately scrambling to find flights to allow them to descend on France in a new Viking invasion ahead of the historic match.

Having plotted Iceland’s incredible rise alongside former Sweden boss Lars Lagerback, co-coach Heimir Hallgrimsson — who is also a dentist in his homeland — is again keen to look at his side’s limited expectations as an advantage.

“France cannot lose the game, it would be horrible for the French nation. But the Icelandic people would be happy if we get a good performance against France,” he said.

“You dream big. But we are realistic, we can play the best game of our lives and still lose against France.”