Sports

4 reasons Iceland has already won EURO 2016

The Express Tribune relives some of the best moments of the match

Sports Desk June 28, 2016

PHOTO: AFP

Iceland were on the good side of one of the biggest upsets of Euro footballing history when they beat England 2-1 late Monday.

The football world was left in a shock when the English side, boasting the likes of Wayne Rooney, Jamie Vardy, Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling, were held in Stade de Nice, France.

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The Express Tribune sport's desk was simply in awe of the Irish team's efforts and dedication to coming out on top. Here we look at some of the best moments of the match.

1) The commentator who couldn't help but make a Brexit reference

As soon as the referee blew the final whistle, an Icelandic commentator went all out when he equated the loss to England's recent referendum to get out the Euro (Brexit). "Live the way you want England. Iceland is going to play France on Sunday. France Iceland!" he shrieked, according to a translation by Mashable.

"You can go home! You can go out of Europe! You can go wherever the hell you want! England 1, Iceland 2 is the closing score here in Nice, and the fairytale continues,” he added.

Someone should have given him a glass of water.

Iceland stun England in one of greatest ever shocks

2) Iceland’s captain - Aron Gunnarsson

If there was a competition for footballers with the most bad-ass beards, Gunnarsson would have won it hands down. Easily the Jon Snow of the Euro tournament.

PHOTO: REUTERS

Apart from his physical appearance, the captain is known to have one of the the longest throws from the boundary lines.

A throw that helped Iceland get on the score sheet.

3) The celebrations

If the goals, the win and the ecstatic celebration were not enough, the Iceland team went on to do a New Zealand rugby team-type 'Haka' to celebrate their historic thumping of England.

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Gunnarsson lead the celebration which started with slow claps and 'hoo-hoo' chants. The world stood in awe of the spectacle that Iceland produced both during and after the match. If this doesn't give you the feels, we aren't sure what will.

4) 3% of Iceland's population is in the stadium!
There have been around 10,000 Icelanders at each of the team's last two UEFA EURO 2016 games -- representing around 3% of the country's total population (330,000).

To be put that into perspective, if a similar number of England's fans came to France, there would be 1.59 million people backing Roy Hodgson's side.

"It is like having your family at the game," defender Kári Árnason said after the 2-1 group-stage win against Austria. "I probably know at least 50% of the people in the crowd."

The reactions

England needs a new PM, a new opposition leader AND a new football coach. Jeez, talk about having a bad week #Brexit #ENGICE
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) June 27, 2016

300,000 Icelanders voted for #Brexit. #engice 😂😂😂
— Amar Adatia (@amaradatia) June 27, 2016

https://twitter.com/kimaiga_robert/status/747762129059614720

Ok my last comment on the game #brexit #england #svt #EURO2016 #euroexit #euro #Titanic #iceland #island #emstudion pic.twitter.com/nGQjoBHz3b
— ZOO BRAZIL (@realzoobrazil) June 28, 2016

Football fans mock as England dumped out of Europe twice

https://twitter.com/RBryantWatson/status/747763335748194304

#EU #UK #Brexit #Twitter #euroexit #euro #collapse #economy #dow #Sterling #englandout #england pic.twitter.com/8fKGIfluAh
— Pradeep J Lalwani (@PJLalwani) June 28, 2016