Lost bag hiccup delays start of Iceland’s World Cup adventure

GELENDZHIK, Russia: Iceland needed police help to keep their World Cup plans on track after coach Heimir Hallgrimsson put his bag on the wrong bus in a comical start to their debut campaign.

Hallgrimsson’s bag was on a bus headed for northern Iceland rather than the team coach bound for the airport on Saturday, a slip that delayed the group’s departure by half an hour while the item was recovered.

“It was good for the guys that they can laugh at me,” Hallgrimsson told AFP on Sunday after the team’s first World Cup training session close to the city of Gelendzhik on Russia’s sunny Black Sea coast.

“Hopefully it’s the only mistake of the tournament.”

Assistant coach Helgi Kolvidsson said the bag contained a computer that had “20 years of work on it”.

“We had to get the police to stop the bus while Heimir bought us a round of coffee at the airport,” he added.

The Nordic side embarked on a fairytale run at Euro 2016, peaking with an astonishing 2-1 win against England as they came from a goal down to condemn Roy Hodgson’s team to a humiliating last-16 exit.

In Russia they face another daunting challenge, with an opening match on June 16 against 2014 World Cup runners- up Argentina. Croatia and Nigeria are their other group- stage opponents.

Hal lg rims son said the experience gained at Euro 2016 would help Iceland, who face pressure from fans at home who want to taste success in their first ever World Cup appearance. — AFP