Iceland's EuroHopes on Ice after Late Magyar Equalizer
So close.
A number of factors must come together for a small population country to compete with the big fish in Euro 2016's pool.
It's a once-in-a-generation thing at the most optimistic, and that's where Iceland is right now.
With a population -- 323,000 -- similar to the metro area of Lincoln, Nebraska, it was impressive enough that the national team affectionately known as Strákarnir okkar -- Our Boys -- even made it to the party.
Up until now, Icelandic football was best known for the theatrics of Stjärnan FC:
Expectations have been raised.
As soon as Their Boys stunned a suddenly impotent Portugal with a 1-1 draw, fans on the tiny island created by volcanoes began to dream of bracket play.
Dudes just needed to hold on against Hungary.
Call it karma. Iceland's only goal came after a highly dubious penalty award when 40-year-old 'keeper Gábor Király showed his age and put teammate Tamás Kádár in it. But really, Aron Gunnarsson should've gotten a 5.6 for the dive that led to Gylfi Sigurðsson stepping up:
So, really, the unavoidable own-goal from Birkir Sævarsson was the latest example of turnabout being fair play.
Besides, if he didn't knock it in, Dániel Böde would have.
As a result, Group F truly is wide open:
They all have a chance to advance. The tale will be told on Wed 22 Jun when Iceland meets Austria and Hungary takes on Portugal.