I don't even think Iceland are underdogs. I think they're a better team than England, and have been the whole tournament. Standard English mentality that Iceland would be an easy game. Never ceases to be hilarious when it all goes wrong.
Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).
ITV commentary in first half was comparing being behind to Iceland to being behind to San Marino.
At half time they were discussing dropping Hart for the quarter final.
I know it doesn't soften our own exit woe, if anything the opposite as we would probably beat Iceland, or certainly make a more credible fist of playing them, but wasn't that joyous to witness ? The arrogance in the lead up, unstinting and grotesque as ever in their ignorant dismissal of another nation & the leave vote, which has sickened me to the point I no longer want to live in this place. Thank you Iceland.
Merci.
Last edited by CraftyToePoke; 27/06/2016 at 10:10 PM.
I don't think we would "probably" beat Iceland.
That said, they did look ordinary enough in some of their group games, and there was an element of the notion that they got through because they had an easy group. They looked shaky in defence at times and i did think England would carve them open regularly. Which didn't happen obviously.
But it's not as if we've set the tournament alight, and I don't think we can say we'd "probably" have beaten any of the last 16.
From BBC's text commentary:
**** these people, seriously. That undeserved arrogance at every turn, based on what? A tournament win 60 years ago and two semis since. They deserve nothing but the scorn they endlessly invite. The humiliation isn't in losing to Iceland, a better team than England. The humiliation is the gutless, cowardly performance, the latest in a long line.England are 10 minutes away from a humiliating exit.
Yes, I know Iceland beat the Netherlands. Yes, I know they held Portugal and have played well.
But try telling someone like my dad that England have lost a game of football to Iceland. He'd laugh in your face.
Author of Never Felt Better (History, Film Reviews).
This is outstanding. Schteve McLaren talking out of his arse and then....
Last edited by The Fly; 28/06/2016 at 2:32 AM.
When you spot yourself on the big screen and want people to think you've got a plan…
Well I do, we'd do them. Not comfortably or anything disrespectful, but we'd edge them. IMOOriginally Posted by pineapple stu
That was easier than expected, thank you Rooney, Kane, Sterling, Wiltshire and last but not least, Joe Harte.
Great scenes downtown Reykjavik, about 15k to 20k watching the match together, the best gathering since the pots and pans protest in autumn of 2008. There were even fireworks post game which is kinda humorous, seeing as the midnight sun is at it's peak.
A few days pre game, a nice touch was provided by the Iceland FA towards the supporters group.
The Iceland national team supporters group is called Tolfun (the old name for the 12th man), They were a small group of 10 or so fans who came with team shirts and drums to the home games and made noise. Way back in 2011 Heimir the now joint manager and heir apparent, talked with them and said he would go to the pub beside the stadium where they met before games, that he would present the team sheet before anybody else knew and explain how they would be set up to play. He still does this. The idea was, we were in this together, this is our link and spread the word. From that grew the massed ranks of Tolfun The other day the press reported that original group of 10 had to come home after the group stages, no money and work duties, The iceland FA stepped in and offered them match tickets for the England game, a charter flight to Nice and accommodation.
I just think it's a comment which doesn't really fit in with your post about the English being disrespectful and arrogant towards Iceland.
You are seeing something that's simply not there, there is a world between believing Ireland would beat Iceland, probably, and the way Iceland were dismissed in the lead up by England, the media here, etc. Do you see ?
England yet to win a European championship knock out game over 90 mins. Staggering. The home of football.
Delighted for you Geysir - enjoy the party! I know you take a bit of a ribbing on here but that's the stuff of dreams.
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
https://vine.co/v/iMPja9Hv52A
See you next time Dele.
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
That is fantastic. Hopefully they get to stay there for the next round also.
I just don't think there's much a leap from you dismissing Iceland - a team who haven't yet lost a match at this tournament - as a team we'd probably beat, and the English media's mindset.
Certainly agree we'd have given Iceland a better game, and also that last night was quite funny for the reasons you note.
Player for player, the English players on paper are better. Most of the Icelanders play in a lower league and some even failed in the UK. Some of the English players are very average by any standard but then so are the Icelanders. So why did Iceland win? They had a plan, team spirit and no pressure. These things in themselves are usually not enough but England, other than give the ball to Sterling and hope his pace will get him beyond the defenders, seemed to be clueless. It was if they knew here was the perennial banana skin and they were going to fall. Rashford, who would not have any baggage, was brought on with only 5 minutes to go and immediately made a difference - 5 minutes when it was obvious that Harry Kane was having a stinker. Paralysis at all levels. Didn't they beat Iceland 6-1 or something like that the last time they played. They didn't even cope with the long throws very well when all and sundry knew this was one of the Icelanders' primary attacking tools. Fear gripped the English team the minute their opponents equalised and confidence vanished. I believe player for player they were good enough to beat Iceland but tactical blunders, poor management, and most of the fear of failure paralyzed the team and allowed Iceland to play their game comfortably and get a deserved win. The story of the tournament.
I also saw most of the Italy/Spanish game. What a performance by Italy who made Spain almost look as bad as England, especially in the first half. They are not afraid to throw men forward when required. Spain need to rebuild. Two excellent games.
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
Fair dues to Iceland. Very efficient execution of a simple and organised game plan.
The Icelanders bettered England in all aspects on the pitch and didn't drop the pace and intensity of their game one bit throughout the whole 95 minutes, it was total football executed on the pitch to perfection. The centre half scored the first, had the overhead kick then did that outrageous (Paul McGrath like) sliding tackle in the box.
Would the Icelandic goalie have been red carded under the "old" rule?
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