At the start of this European Championship, everybody expected Iceland to go to France and contribute points to established teams who needed them to progress. But here are they now with only 90 minutes standing between them and the semifinal of EURO 2016.
Did they get this far by accident? Certainly not. Never forget that Iceland came from a goal down to massacre the Three Lions of England 2-1 to trigger a BREXIT from the European Championship and send English football to its greatest depression in about 100 years.
Iceland players and fans celebrate after beating England 2-1
Tonight at Stade de France, the resilience of this Iceland team will surely come under the test of a consuming French attack in a quarter-final tie, only France stands to lose.
Iceland is a country of about 300,000 people. The last that was heard about the country was when its Prime Minister resigned after the Panama Papers leak implicated in a wrongdoing. The feat of this Iceland national team has succeeded in positively planting the country on the world map. They have taken Iceland to the world. Millions of people now know the country, Iceland.
So with this feat, the players are already heroes at home, notwithstanding what happens tonight. This was well captured when Iceland coach, Heimir Hallgrimsson said, “There is a big difference in the pressure on Iceland and on France. 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.
“But we are realistic. You dream big. We can play the best game of our lives and still lose against France.”
“I think you can agree with me that we have been playing better and better throughout the competition, and I think you can agree with me that our best game is still to come.”
But Hallgrimsson did not lose touch with reality. So he added: “But we are realistic. You dream big. We can play the best game of our lives and still lose against France.”
Les Blues are not taking the Iceland challenge lightly. Defender Patrice Evra, while calling on fellow players to action and not rely on reaction as against Ireland, said his team have respect for the Iceland team.
“People go on about long throws and all that but Iceland are not just that. They’re a good team who can play good football and they did not get to this stage by accident.
“We have all due respect for Iceland, which does not mean we don’t believe we can’t beat them.”
Excellent midfielder, N’Golo Kante of Leicester City, who extended his Premier League fine form to this tournament will miss the clash due to yellow card suspension. To join Kante on the sidelines is shaky defender, Adil Rami. He is also suspended for the clash. Uncapped France centre-back Samuel Umtiti is expected to provide cover.
France’s midfielder N’Golo Kante
New poster boy of French football, after Platini in 1984 and Zidane in 1998, Paul Pogba and Westham’s Payet will lead the charge against a stubborn Iceland team. Both are crucial to the French team but the rivalry between the two, as to who is the boss, has prevented Pogba from stamping his authority on games as he would love to.
Eleven times Iceland have failed to beat France. The last meeting was in May 2012 when France won 3-2, after trailing 2-0. So the big question on the mind of fans is, could Iceland now be able to end the French domination in their own territory? History is antagonistic to this ambition. France are unbeaten in their last 16 major tournament games played at home. Les Blues have won 14 and drawing two. Their last defeat dates back to July 1960 in the maiden European Championships against Czechoslovakia, which they lost 0-2.
Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann has scored three of France’s last four goals. He has displaced Payet as the man of the moment. His two quick goals helped France bury Martin O’Neil’s Irish team despite going up 1-0 early.
Griezmann in chase of the golden boot
In that match, Les Blues, being a goal down, were expected to show character. And they did. Iceland produced the greatest shock of the tournament when they beat England 2-1 at Nice. But against a solid French team, playing on home soil, it would appear that that Icealnd may have reached the last bus stop.
Kick-off is at 21.00 (CET)
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