I’ve been watching soccer my whole life—international soccer at that. That means I’ve accrued enough experience to know that a perennial top world soccer country of 66 million, currently ranked at No. 6, that has a World Cup championship under their belt—earned at home (like this year’s Euros)—should have no business losing to a tiny nation of 300,000 in a competitive international game. But that’s not stopping me from believing that there’s a possibility that maybe, with a halftime score of 4-0, Iceland is still in this one.
It’s just that the story’s too good. The defeat of England, the alternate professions of the players, the sold-out jerseys. Just look at this little snippet of information that’ll warm your heart about this unprecedented David-and-Goliath story.
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Ok, so France is up 4-0, starting with a devious run by Olivier Giroud that absolutely rent apart the Iceland back line to open France’s account. Then came a header from Paul Pogba off of a corner in the 20th minute—ending a 16-game scoring drought for the Juventus man. Ok, cool. No problem, two goals, whatever. Then a goal by Payet from the top of the 18-yard box. Three’s a charm… for a comeback, right?
And then Antoine Griezzman went ahead and did this:
Alright, fine. This is a pretty steep climb—even for the odds-defying, glorious Icelandic team. But please, for the sake of triumph and glory and hope, just string together a few famous throw-in goals, and go for a 5-goal run? Please, Iceland?
UPDATE:
(74′)
Iceland have a goal!!! Oh, good lord. They just needed a whiff of a chance, and here it was, in the 56th minute. Kolbeinn Sigþórsson found himself on the other end of a beautifully-delivered cross, and toe-pokes one in for Iceland.
Oh. Oh, damn. Well, Giroud had something to say about that in the 59th minute, heading home a long ball from a set piece. Damn, damn, damn.
(FT)
Iceland got another goal in—this time from the beautifully-maned Birkir Bjarnason.
But not even Bjarnason’s Thor-like majesty was enough to bring back Iceland from what was (despite a certain blogger’s insistence otherwise) inevitability. The game ended 5-2, with Les Bleus going to the semi finals. What a wonderful, wonderful run, though, from the tiny island of Iceland that’ll be remembered for as long as this game is played. Legends.
