As Austria pressed for an equaliser, Ari Skulason fouled Alaba in the penalty area but Dragovic’s spot-kick clipped the outside of the post, and Iceland had the ball in the net just a minute later, through Birkir Bjarnason was flagged offside.
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Iceland in need of points, did just that in defeating Austria with a last minute victor to book a place in the Round of 16.
Iceland snatched a stoppage-time victor to continue their fairytale story at Euro 2016 by making it through to the last 16 after a deserved 2-1 victory against Austria in their final Group F match on Wednesday. It really is quite something. “That’s why they’ll do nothing in this competition”.
“We won the game in the end but it was a rollercoaster”. “We don’t mind what other people think of us, we try to do our best and I think the players on the pitch show they give their best”.
The game got off to an electric start and Iceland almost went ahead after three minutes when Johann Gudmundsson rattle the crossbar from 25-yards out.
Led by former Sweden coach Lars Lagerback, who was hired in 2011 and joint-manager Heimir Hallgrímsson, who is also a part-time dentist, Iceland has risen from the depths to become one of football’s emerging nations.
“I have always supported England in the big global tournaments, when we haven’t been playing”, Iceland defender Kari Arnason said.
Sigurdsson saw a shot well saved but Austria were now in nearly complete control, with Marc Janko turning just wide before Schopf was denied by the Iceland goalkeeper.
Their first-ever win at a major tournament sets up a fascinating last-16 clash on Monday in Nice against England – a country approximately 165 times the size of Iceland.
Austria looked to hit back and were awarded a penalty in the 36th minute when David Alaba was brought down.
Dragovic’s penalty struck the outside of the post and he dropped to his knees and covered his face with his jersey, completing a miserable tournament for a defender who was sent off against Hungary and therefore missed the subsequent Portugal game because of suspension.
– Both of Austria’s goals at European Championship finals have been scored by substitutes. “That’s the feeling of all the lads. We believe in our ability”. It’s extra fun to do this with my best friends. We’re a tight-knit group and what we’ve done is fantastic. “I’m really moved, what can you say after a game like this?” It’s unbelievable, its like having your family here, I know probably 50% of crowd or recognise them.
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A defeat by Iceland, a team which England defeated 6-1 when the two last met back in 2004, would be catastrophic for Hodgson and his side.
