Thunder’s in the air but Iceland are set up to ride out storms
ICELAND’S role at their first World Cup is following a familiar script. They are the team every neutral loves to see succeed but few enjoy to watch.
Two years after that dismal last-16 defeat at the European Championship finals, the mere mention of Iceland still brings an anguished look to the face of any England player or fan.
The infamous thunderclap has been adopted by supporters of teams in various sports around the globe since.
Now it is being heard on football’s biggest stage and, just like at the Euros, the team are threatening to make a big noise, with Nigeria their latest opponents in today’s Group D fixture.
Iceland thrive in the role of underdogs, which is perhaps why taking on Argentina in their first group game was the ideal start. They were written off before a ball was kicked but kept Lionel Messi, and therefore Argentina, quiet. Their style of play earns few admirers, but no one within their ranks cares. If anything, they thrive on the criticism.
Defensive solidity and organisation, along with hard work, are not qualities to make many highlight reels. But as Cardiff midfielder Aron Gunnarsson told ESPN: “If we do everything like Spain and try to play like Spain, you know what we will become? A really bad version of Spain. As for our opponents, let’s not make football fun for them.”
Another of their stalwarts, Burnley winger Johann Berg Gudmundsson delivers a similar message. “I’ve seen the stats. It’s always: the opposition had more possession; completed more passes. And I’m like, ‘And what? What did they do? They didn’t score against us. We scored two. With fewer passes. Fewer corners. But we managed to grind out a result’. We’re always going to come across teams that are better, so we have to find a different way.”
The question Iceland have yet to answer is what happens if Plan A does not work?
Argentina’s 3-0 defeat by Croatia last night meant that victory for either side today would leave them with one foot in the last 16.
Significantly, statistics show that the minnows have achieved their best results when they hardly have the ball. Against Argentina and England, they had about 27 per cent possession. Conversely, during their heaviest defeat in recent years — the 5-2 hammering by hosts France in the quarter-finals of Euro 2016 — they had 47 per cent.
If progression to the knockout stages is at risk, Iceland will have no choice but to go on the attack and abandon what they are best at.
“We know our strengths and need to make the best of them,” said coach Heimir Hallgrimsson. “We have found a formula that works for us and we try to get everybody to follow it. We’ve tried to find what kind of playing style, what kind of characteristics this Icelandic team needs to have. And this is the way for Iceland to be successful.”
It worked to great effect at their last major tournament, but it remains to be seen whether they can repeat that magic.