Next up for the minnows is a quarter-final with hosts France and despite their status as underdogs, Lagerback is confident that his side have the tools to overcome Didier Deschamps’s team.
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Hallgrimsson, who will take sole charge when Lagerback retires at the end of Iceland’s European Championship adventure, rejected the notion of pundits showing a lack of respect toward his team.
The demise of Hodgson’s team in Nice has at least served as a warning for Les Bleus.
“Maybe we have players with less individual quality, if you compare our players with the French team, which has players in nearly every position playing in the Champions League day in day out”, Iceland joint-coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said.
Hallgrimsson gives the reason behind players playing better with each passing game, saying, “I think a big part of why we are always playing better and better is that the players are more relaxed in every game and have grown in confidence”. Why didn’t the English go through? Who, though, could possibly bring themselves to hope that Iceland, those most amicable of football upstarts, will be going home on Monday? “If we have that attitude we can cause them some problems”.
“I thought England would win because they have a young and talented team, and I’m used to playing against majority”, Sagna told the Guardian.
“There have been surprises from the outset of this tournament”.
They have shown at Euro 2016, with thrilling victories over England and Austria and draws with Portugal and Hungary, that they need not fear any opponent. They twice beat Holland, they beat the Czechs and finished top of their group.
“It is a quality team and you must not underestimate them”. We just can’t let them down. “They played on their strengths and we are trying to play on our strengths”. “It was a shock for the country because England are England”, he said.
Ahead of Sunday’s quarterfinal against Iceland, France held its pre-match conference at Stade de France to 11 a.m – much earlier than usual.
“They have long throws and a thrower who can throw them very flat”.
“The criticism can be a bit harsh when you’re a player”. I visited West Ham with the legend that was Ron Greenwood, who later became the national team coach. Following the defeat, the Three Lions manager Roy Hodgson stepped down from his post.
“Iceland totally deserve to be here, they’ve been among the best teams”.
France, up to now, have dealt with the weight of expectation relatively well despite all their games having proved tight.
The Iceland joint-manager Heimir Hallgrimsson has suggested Didier Deschamps’ team could struggle with the pressure on Sunday because a loss “would be disgusting for the French nation”.
He said: “I am not sure I should even toy with the notion of winning this next game”.
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You can see live coverage of all the matches on your TV channels – SONY SIX and SONY ESPN. “They have some good individuals and we just have to be ready for that”.
