Absolutely nobody expected Iceland to do anything at Euro 2016.
If they drew two group-stage games and came 4th, most pundits would have considered it an achievement to be very proud of.
This was a nation of just 330,000 at the time and to see them score a few goals would have been magical enough for many fans.
But after two games, Iceland had got their two draws, stonewalling eventual winners Portugal, and now had a very real chance to progress to the knockouts.
They faced Austria, who were bottom of the group with one point, but could finish in second with a win. Both sides needed 3 points to secure qualification, as did Portugal in the game against Hungary.
For Iceland to just be in with a shout was massive, and anticipation was high. The squad itself were composed. They had a rich vein of belief running through the side, with a great sense of understanding running through the team.
Iceland were going to do what they’d done so far, frustrate and counter.
In the most important match of Iceland’s history, they’d start brilliantly.
An Auspicious Start
A lovely move, featuring a silky back-heeled flick, sees the ball fall at Gudmunsson’s feet. 25 metres from goal a thundering drive saw him smash the crossbar, as the tiny country displayed early signs of what they were capable of.
Despite some of Iceland’s good football in the early stages, the total antithesis of the beautiful game would break the deadlock.
Iceland had the fortune of having Aron Gunnarsson at their disposal. A long throw specialist.
With a chance to launch the ball into the box with 17 minutes gone, Iceland sensed an opportunity to strike. A classic, hurled, looping throw-in had the Austrians at sixes and sevens, struggling to organise themselves and losing their markers in the chaos.
It was rookie defending in all honesty, there was no attempt to meet the throw, and the ball landed at Bodvarsson’s feet, something that should never happen in senior football, let alone an international tournament.
But Bödvarsson still had work to do. A smart touch, taking it away from a defender’s feet, saw him face to face with the keeper, and an alarming amount of time to shoot, from just 7 or 8 metres out.
There was only one outcome, Iceland making the dream start to the game.
But Austria still had a chance to qualify if they won, and there was plenty of football to be played.
It’s safe to say Iceland soon found themselves on the rocks.
Austria kept knocking on the door. Everything seemed to fall to Arnautovic, who was doing his best to make the most out of snapshots, half-chances and very difficult headers.
But after their poor start, Austria now looked totally dominant, with a direct playstyle working in their favour.
As Iceland weathered the start of the Austrian storm, tragedy soon struck in the form of a contentious decision from the referee.
A Soft Penalty To Say The Least
A hopeful ball into David Alaba looked to have gone out for a goal kick, but the referee deemed Skulasson to have pulled him back as he leapt to challenge for the ball.
On seeing the replay, it’s incredibly soft, with the slightest of grabs on Alaba’s arm, that did nothing to impede the player.
Nonetheless, there was no use protesting. It was a penalty.
Dragovic looked eager to get the penalty over with, hurriedly setting himself as soon as the ref blew his whistle.
Aiming at the keeper’s right, he suffered the ignominy of watching on as his shot missed by the finest of margins, striking the post as it went out for a goal-kick.
It was all Austria after Iceland’s opener.
After a shot from range tested the Icelandic keeper once more, Iceland would be thankful to hear the half-time whistle.
But Half-time did little to change the nature of the game, Austria instantly resuming their onslaught.
Just a minute in, Alaba looked certain to score into a practically goalkeeperless net. But a brilliant goal-line clearance from Arnason kept Iceland ahead.
More half-chances came and went, as Iceland had barely threatened since taking the lead.
Then, in the 60th minute, the state of the game would finally change.
Austria Thaw Through The Snow
With Alaba driving into the Icelandic half, Austria finally had space to attack. A simple pass to Schopf saw the Austrian attacker with space to attack, running at the Icelandic defence.
Leaving a defender for dead as he jinked past him, Schopf carried the ball into the box and buried his chance.
1-1, if scores stayed the same, they would need to rely on Hungary beating Portugal to secure their progress.
Iceland had put their hearts on the line and defended incredibly, but there was little that could have been done. It was just a great piece of play from Schopf.
It looked for all the world like Austria were the likely team to find another goal and qualify.
Iceland had to go for another goal now, a draw likely put everything in the hands of lots of different results. They’d have to be one of the top four 3rd placed teams, and there were so many variables, 3 points overall with an even goal difference could spell elimination.
A few minutes later, Gylfi Sigurdsson saw his shot from the edge of the box parried away.
This Iceland side still had some life in it yet.
On 75 minutes, Iceland saw a shot from the edge of the area directly hit an Austrian hand inside the box, but nothing was given.
The referee’s decisions continue to favour Austria.
This really was turning into a typical Underdog story.
Austria were still searching.
Alaba saw a free kick well saved and Jankto came close with a header.
Time sauntered on. After 23 attempts to Iceland’s 8, with a minute left, it seemed the island nation were consigned to the 3rd place lottery.
But, Iceland was never a team to accept reality…
Trapped Under Ice
Austria were desperate for a win, knowing that a draw still had them confined to last place, but winning meant leap-frogging Iceland and Portugal to go 2nd.
Men were thrown forward, but Iceland were smart.
They kept an option to get out of defence further afield, and when a dodgy clearance found that man, Iceland were away.
A simple counterattack turned into a 3-on-1. With 2 runners streaming into the box, and one defender to squeeze a ball past, Iceland couldn’t get a better opportunity.
A well-weighted pass across goal was met by Traustason, who managed to thread the needle to fire the ball past Almer in goal. The resulting screams from the Icelandic commentary would go viral.
This was a game that sums up exactly why football is a sport like no other.
They battled against a much better side, put on a valiant defensive display, all while the referee’s big decisions all went Austria’s way.
An incredible feat from a nation with half the population of Luxembourg.
Iceland would go on to record an even bigger shock in beating England 2-1 in a match that is still considered England’s most embarrassing defeat in their history.
They’d lose to finalists France, 5-2, but they had already achieved far far more than thought possible.
This was an Iceland team that may represent the pinnacle of Iceland’s footballing achievements for the rest of history.
What a story and what a run it was. Even now, despite being English and still having nightmares of that woeful defeat, Iceland will always have a soft spot in my heart. As all great underdogs should.
