- Fran Reilly
- Tue, Jun 14 2016
Iceland secured an invaluable point in their Euro 2016 Group F clash against Portugal in Saint-Etienne, with Birkir Bjarnason's 59th minute equaliser cancelling out Nani's first-half goal.
On a night where Ronaldo equalled Luis Figo's record of 127 appearances for Portugal and was seeking to become the first man to score at four separate European Championships, it was Iceland who made history, earning their first major tournament point while becoming the smallest ever nation to compete at the Euros.
It was a resolute performance and while Portugal only have themselves to blame for some poor finishing, particularly in the first-half when they were in control, the sheer spirit and dogged determination demonstrated by Strákarnir Okkar – translation “Our Boys” – meant that a draw was the least they deserved from a game they themselves could have nicked.
And they ultimately had a bit of luck, too, as five minutes from time Ronaldo of all people passed up a gilt-edged chance, heading straight at Iceland 'keeper Hannes Halldórsson from six yards.
These two sides had met just twice before in Euro 2012 qualifying with Portugal coming out on top in a pair of games that produced 12 goals between them, including a 5-3 thriller in Porto. While Iceland fans will have been wary of Ronaldo and co., it was Gylfi Sigurdsson who had the first real chance of the game.
The Swansea City man, Iceland's top scorer in qualifying, broke through down the left wing, sold Danilo by coming inside him and tried to beat Rui Patricio at his near post. The Portuguese 'keeper read it and stopped it before gathering Sigurdsson's off-balance second attempt too.
It was a sign of intent, to show they weren't just here to make up the numbers. Yet after their bright early start, Iceland found themselves on the back foot with Portugal dominating possession and creating plenty of chances throughout the first-half.
Some Ronaldo trickery in the 20th minute on the left flank gave him the space to fizz a cross into the area. Nani had expertly pulled away and he powered his header from six yards downward. The Fenerbahce man seemed to do everything right, but 'keeper Halldórsson did well to make the reaction save with his legs.
Five minutes later and Halldórsson made a save before realising he made it. A ball over the top from Pepe in the 25th minute saw Ronaldo dart ahead of his marker into the area.
He tried to volley it with power from close range but miscued, and the bounce almost surprised Halldórsson as he palmed it away at the last moment. Another wasted chance for Portugal, but they would break the deadlock in the 31st minute.
An excellent move by Portugal down the right side saw Vieirinha, a constant threat throughout, and André Gomes exchange a one-two, with the latter then putting it on a plate for Nani arriving at the near post to just slide past an exposed Halldórsson.
It had been coming and bar Iceland winning a succession of corners after the concession of the goal, Portugal almost exclusively owned the ball for the rest of the half without creating much in the way of chances. Lars Lagerback and Heimir Hallgrímsson would have been happy to get their side in at just 1-0 for a chance to regroup.
Ronaldo fired a long range effort over the bar two minutes after the restart as Portugal sought to resume where they left off, but they failed to find a second goal and then something incredible happened. Iceland equalised.
Jóhann Gudmundsson whipped in an excellent left-footed cross from the right-wing and Vieirinha – a winger at club level but a right-back at international level – was caught ball watching in the box. Birkir Bjarnason was all alone at the backpost and he volleyed home first time to send the Icelanders into raptures.
The shock of conceding saw Portugal redouble their efforts, Gomes forcing a save from Halldórsson with the Iceland 'keeper also needing to be sharp to pluck a deflected Vieirinha cross from the crowd of players, friends and foes, in his six yard box moments later.
Nani then, from the edge of the box, glanced a whipped free-kick delivered centrally just wide of the post, but Iceland were quite capable on the break during this period.
Bjarnason's cross was almost met by a teammate before landing in the grateful arms of Patricio, while Kolbeinn Sigthorsson – a battering ram up front who caused chaos all evening – outjumped two Portuguese defenders to flick a ball into the six yard box where a diving Jon Dadi Bodvarsson was just a fraction away from connecting with it.
Portugal boss Fernando Santos brought on Renato Sanches, Ricardo Quaresma and Eder in his attempts to turn the tie around, and Quaresma saw his cross almost beat Halldórsson at the near post – it deflected for a corner which came to nothing.
Yet it was Ronaldo's missed header which proved costliest of all, with Halldórsson clearly relieved when the Real Madrid man put Nani's cross straight into his hands. Iceland substitute Alfred Finnbogason had the audacity to go up the other end to try win it for his side, but his powerful shot was straight at Patricio.
Ronaldo put back-to-back long range free-kicks into the wall twice in a row deep in stoppage time in what proved to be an anti-climax to the game for Portuguese fans as they thought their hero would win it for them in dramatic fashion. Instead, it was the heroes of Iceland who were left celebrating another piece of history.
Portugal: Rui Patricio; Vieirinha, Pepe, Ricardo Carvalho, Raphael Guerreiro; Joao Mário (Ricardo Quaresma, 75), Danilo Pereira, André Gomes (Eder, 84); Joao Moutinho (Renato Sanches, 70); Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Nani.
Subs not used: Anthony Lopes (GK), Eduardo Carvalho (GK), Cédric Soares, Adrien Silva, Rafa Silva, José Fonte, Eliseu, William Carvalho, Bruno Alves.
Iceland: Hannes Halldórsson; Birkir Saevarsson, Ragnar Sigurdsson, Kári Árnason, Ari Skúlason; Jóhann Berg Gudmundsson (Theódór Elmar Bjarnason, 90), Aron Gunnarsson, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Birkir Bjarnason; Kolbeinn Sigthorsson (Alfred Finnbogason, 80), Jon Dadi Bodvarsson.
Subs not used: Ingvar Jónsson (GK), Ogmundur Kristinsson (GK), Arnór Ingvi Traustason, Rúnar Már Sigurjónsson, Hordur Magnússon, Sverrir Ingi Ingason, Hjortur Hermannsson, Haukur Hauksson, Heimir Hallgrímsson, Emil Hallfredsson, Eidur Gudjohnsen.
Bookings: Birkir Bjarnason (55), Alfred Finnbogason (90+4).
Referee: Cüneyt Cakir (TUR).
Attendance: 38,742..
Extratime Man of the Match: Kolbeinn Sigthorsson (Iceland).
