Built around superstar C. Ronaldo, Portugal topped the 5-team qualifying group composed of Albania, Denmark, Serbia and Armenia with seven wins and one loss.
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With the lead in hand and three-quarters of possession, Portugal eased off somewhat, and the score was 1-0 at the half.
In the final minute of regulation time, Sanches delivered a attractive long pass right to Cristiano Ronaldo lurking in front of the Iceland’s goal. American soccer fans can watch a quintuple-header of major global tournament matches Saturday, the first of six in the next week-and-a-half. It was the tiny island’s first European Championship game ever, and they managed to come from behind and tie Portugal, 1-1.
Birkir Bjarnason celebrates after scoring Iceland’s equaliser. Iceland celebrated a 1-1 draw that must have felt like Christmas and a handful of birthdays all in one.
Portugal’s next game will be played with Austria in Paris on June 18.
All the highlights, plus photos and scores from the day 5 at Euro 2016 on Tuesday (14).
Portugal then started the second half as they ended the first and Ronaldo’s half-volley had Halldorsson scampering across his goal.
Portugal would be bitterly disappointed and the final few minutes of the match summed up the evening for them.
A stringing drive from Iceland substitute Finnbogason nearly secured all three points and although it was palmed away by Patricio, it didn’t prevent his team holding on for a memorable draw.
“The first match is always complicated but the team is confident”, said Santos.
Renato Sanches, Ricardo Quaresma and Eder were all sent on to try and swing the scoreline back in Portugal’s favour, however, Fernando Santos’ troops failed to break through their opponents’ solid backline.
In all there were close to 30 Portuguese attempts on goal but Hannes Halldorsson was equal to many of them.
And here is Iceland’s opener, where Portugal fell asleep defending.
They should have led through Gylfi Sigurdsson; Portugal were frozen early on as the Swansea man forced a double save from Rui Patricio after slipping by Danilo.
The noise from the Iceland fans – they are estimated to have brought about 10 per cent of population of 330,000 to France – remained high throughout.
Vieirinha tried his luck from distance and Ronaldo headed over.
Speaking at his post-match press conference, Hallgrimsson said: “It’s down to teamwork”.
Kiraly, wearing his trademark grey sweatpants, made some good stops, including a dive to block a shot from Zlatko Junuzovic in the 35th minute. It did appear that Nani had scored with 20 minutes to go, but this slick header went just wide.
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Deep into injury-time, Ronaldo blasted two free-kicks into the Iceland wall.
