Hollywood Hannes is geared up for sequel and hosts are right in the picture

ICELAND goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson has compared the prospect of beating hosts France at Euro 2016 to “something that only happens in a Hollywood film”.

Tournament surprise package Iceland take on the French in Paris today, with the minnows having stunned England to reach the quarter-finals last week.

And Halldorsson, 32 (below) – no stranger to the silver screen given his former day job in the film industry – does not want to see the credits roll on Iceland’s epic adventure just yet.

He said: “I am not sure I should even toy with the notion of winning this next game. It’s just on a scale that is unfathomable.

“What would beating France mean? It would be incredible, amazing, something that only happens in a Hollywood film.

“It’s okay to dream but we will have to see. For Iceland to qualify for the semis at a tournament of this size would obviously be huge.” Meanwhile, the full-back who once ran so far and so fast that he broke a treadmill, is ready to keep France dangerman Dimitri Payet under wraps. Birkir Saevarsson, 31, plays for Swedish top division strugglers Hammarby but has the West Ham superstar in his sights. “It is just about being aggressive,” he said. “Most of all don’t let Payet go inside and shoot with his right foot. Preferably get him on the left foot. “It is difficult to find any weakness so it is just about not letting him curl the ball in the far corner.”

And Saevarsson added: “The biggest difference is that the players at the Euros are a little bit better, quicker and have more technique. You can’t relax for one second or you get punished.

“In Sweden you don’t get punished as much when you are sleeping.

“One second here and somebody has gone away from you.”