Iceland hit new heights

In a country of a just quarter of a million people, where the weather often makes football impossible, Iceland are steadily developing into a force to be reckoned with.

Miraculous developments
In the past four years they have held world champions France to a 1-1 draw and beaten footballing powers such as Russia and the Czech Republic, as well as sweeping aside lesser sides in the way they themselves were once defeated. Iceland came within a whisker of qualifying for EURO 2000™ and the 2002 FIFA World Cup, but fell at the last hurdles when they met sides who had world class players in every position on the field.

Stunning result
The North Atlantic islanders caused a massive upset just two months after France had beaten Brazil 3-0 in the World Cup final when they held the French to a 1-1 draw in Reykjavík. A mistake by Manchester United FC goalkeeper Fabien Barthez allowed Rikhardur Dadason to score after half an hour although France replied soon after.

Russian victory
The French found life uncomfortable against the powerfully built Icelanders, who went one better two games later when their tactics of getting players behind the ball and relying on quick breaks paid off with a winner against Russia three minutes from time.

Record breaking run
Iceland’s strong form continued well into 1999, with comfortable wins over Andorra and Armenia and a draw away to Ukraine. Unbeaten for ten matches, Iceland had recorded their best performance in European Championship qualifying and with four games to play had a real chance of qualifying for the finals in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Disaster in Moscow
But the wheels came off their campaign in Moscow in June when their defensive tactics failed them. Russia scored a single goal and Iceland did not have the tactical ability to change their style to a more aggressive one. A 3-0 victory over Andorra put them above France into third place in the most congested group of the qualifying programme. However Iceland’s hopes were virtually extinguished when they were beaten 1-0 by Ukraine at home, going down to a Serhiy Rebrov penalty.

French showdown
Still Iceland’s final match against France in Paris was a thriller – in the course of which the visitors went close to eliminating the world champions from the tournament.  Iceland had a mathematical chance of qualifying but France stormed into a two-goal lead, thanks to a Thordur Gudjonssen own goal and a Youri Djorkaeff drive. But the Icelanders did not lie down. Eyjoflur Sverisson blasted home a 30-metre free kick and then, to the consternation of the huge French crowd, Brynjar Gunnarsson equalised. With half an hour to go, France were on their way out. However, 19 minutes from time, normal service was resumed when David Trezeguet slammed in the winner and Iceland’s campaign was over.

Edvaldson takes over
The winter of 1999 saw the departure of coach Gudjon Thordarson and his replacement by Atli Edvaldson, formerly with KR Reykjavík, who had just guided his team to an historic Icelandic league and cup double. Edvaldson made an inauspicious start to Iceland’s bid to qualify for the World Cup finals, losing to group favourites Denmark and the Czech Republic.

Iceland rally
Victory over Northern Ireland thanks to an 88th-minute Gudjonsson goal was followed by defeat in Bulgaria but the Scandinavians stayed in the chase by beating Malta before producing what many in Iceland consider their best ever result, a 3-1 home victory over the Czech Republic. The Czechs lost Jan Koller to a red card for spitting and the floodgates opened, the Icelanders scoring three times either side of half-time. The result propelled Iceland into third place and within a shout of qualifying.

Defeat at the death
But Iceland crashed to heavy defeats in their last two matches: a 3-0 loss against Northern Ireland confirmed their elimination before Denmark rubbed salt into the wounds with a 6-0 demolition. Edvaldsson was heavily criticised for those defeats by an Icelandic public convinced their time had come. 
 
Great expectations
Those high expectations are a sign that Icelanders are beginning to believe they could become serious footballing contenders. After years of being Europe’s whipping boys, simple clean sheets will no longer do.