There has been some criticism about Euro 2016’s new 24 team format in the run-up to the tournament. Some people argued that the decision would dilute the quality of the tournament, but International tournaments always come with their surprises, with smaller nations causing upsets and underdogs progressing further than anyone would have predicted.
In recent years we’ve seen the success of Senegal and South Korea at the World Cup in 2002, and both Denmark and Greece defying the odds to win the Euros. And the addition of 8 more teams has allowed exciting new countries to show what they can do on the big stage.
In their opening game, Albania had their moments and created some good chances against Switzerland, and if they had kept 11 men on the field they might have mustered at least a point. They managed to hold France for 90 minutes in their second game and grabbed their first ever major tournament goal and victory against Romania.
They’ve shown a lot of fight and can still progress to the last 16 as one of the third-placed finishers. Even if they miss out, the players have given their fans something to sing about.
Wales have also been very impressive, topping group B after an emphatic 3-0 win over Russia. Many people branded Wales as a one-man team, and Bale is the danger man having scored 10 and assisted 2 of his country’s last 16 competitive goals. But the whole team have performed well, taking their chances and defending strongly with Ashley Williams providing excellent leadership from the back.
It has been a non-stop party for so far in France for Northern Ireland fans too, as they managed to clinch one of the best third-placed finishers. The fans have won over many friends off the field and as a result the boys in green have become many people’s second favourite team.
Despite having just 21% of the possession against Germany, a magnificent performance from Michael McGovern between the sticks kept Germany’s goal tally down to just one. It was the respectable goal difference that has secured their place in the last 16, and I’m sure McGovern won’t be short of job offers when he returns home. The rest of the players gave everything they had and have done their country proud.
With a population of 1.5 million, reaching the finals is a great achievement in itself, making the knockout stages I’m sure was beyond anyone’s expectations.
And that brings me to Iceland. The smallest nation ever to reach a major tournament with a population of 323,000 (the same as Wigan). It’s estimated that 10% of the whole country have visited France for the finals.
The country climbed 109 spots in the FIFA rankings in just 3 years, beating Turkey and Latvia 3-0 in qualifying, before a Sigurdsson penalty effectively knocked Holland out of the race for Euro 2016 (which still stings), later confirming their own spot with a draw against Kazhakstan. Qualifying for Euro 2016 was an incredible achievement for the tiny nation.
My former Chelsea team-mate Eidur Gudjonsen is the country’s most famous player, who has flown to France along with Swansea’s Gyfli Sigurdsson and Halldorrson, the goalkeeper who is also a film director and did Iceland’s Eurovision entry 4 years ago.
They’ve been interesting to watch and have had two great results so far, drawing against Hungary and keeping Ronaldo at bay with a 0-0 draw against Portugal. I think all neutrals will be rooting for Iceland to go through to the knockout stages, but no matter what happens in their final game, the Iceland players will go home heroes.
#mmlove