France did enough to reach the Euro quarterfinals. But fair play to Iceland’s promising ‘Turf Generation’

ROTHERHAM, England — Regardless of France having a deeper footballing pedigree (and a inhabitants over 174 instances greater) than Iceland, the play between them in Monday’s 1-1 draw was surprisingly comparable.

The method of the 2 groups was comparable, and their failings aligned on the night time at New York Stadium, but solely France are progressing to the Euro 2022 quarterfinals.

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France began the event properly, perhaps even too properly. Within the first half of Les Bleues opening group stage match towards Italy, their perfomance was chic. There was additionally slice of luck for France, simply because the defending from Italy was a number of the worst the crew have managed in current reminiscence, however the resounding reminiscence was of how deliciously properly the winners had managed the midfield and possessed the ball.

But, that was when France’s really breathless play ended, the crew juddery within the second half towards Italy and so too, of their second match towards Belgium. Shedding Marie-Antoinette Katoto towards the Belgians was powerful, however France had the depth to come back out firing in Monday’s group stage finale.

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And so they did simply that, once they took the lead 43 seconds into the sport towards Iceland. However once more, that was when their finest soccer appeared to fade out, with their lack of ability to complete off the sport after Lyon striker Melvine Malard’s early aim gave France the benefit.

Iceland wanted little time to readjust and shortly settled into the match and continued as they’ve all July, transferring the ball round properly and getting it to their hazard girls. Coming into the match with two attracts from two, the concern for Iceland was how simply they may have wrapped up two wins and their development with a match to spare, nevertheless the objectives had refused to come back for them. In Rotherham, the identical theme continued.

Posting virtually as many assaults as France, Iceland may solely handle half the pictures as their opposition, their finishes frustratingly missing, the ball despatched simply broad greater than as soon as. Even after given a keep of execution after France had two objectives disallowed — one for a transparent offside, one other for a ball-to-hand handball (and each objectives overturned after a VAR intervention) — Iceland couldn’t get the ball to drop for them.

With a crew polarised between younger and previous, it is clear to see the power in youth coming by way of for the diminutive nation, as star defender Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir mentioned to ESPN final week:

“I feel we’re getting a brand new era of youthful gamers which might be superb on the ball. We name them the turf era in Iceland, as a result of they did not need to play on the s— grass. They’re superb with the ball and I feel that provides us so much.”

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Listed as one of many gamers to look at this summer season, 21-year-old Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir has lived as much as her modest billing, not fairly at her finest as Iceland haven’t fairly been at their full potential. But it is not simply Jónsdóttir who performs her membership soccer within the German Frauen-Bundesliga for VfL Wolfsburg, however others like Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir — who additionally performs in Germany, for Wolfsburg’s rivals, Bayern Munich — who has been one of many ones to thrill and present a sparkle of the magic that lies beneath.

In Rotherham, 22-year-old Agla María Albertsdóttir very almost discovered the breakthrough for Iceland after the break after she wove across the French defence and launched an effort at Pauline Peyraud-Magnin’s aim, drawing a fantastic save from the goalkeeper. Albertsdóttir, one other who has left the Icelandic league looking for higher soccer, the diaspora is one thing that is solely benefited the nationwide crew as Viggósdóttir mentioned after the draw towards Italy.

“Now we have extra gamers which might be taking part in out within the large golf equipment in Europe, which implies that you play these video games many instances per yr. Coming right here is not an enormous distinction from while you’re taking part in along with your membership,” Viggósdóttir mentioned. “I feel the expertise makes a really large distinction. Now we have now skilled gamers which might be 20 years previous, not simply those which might be 30.”

France are advancing at Euro 2022 whereas Iceland, defeating not dropping a recreation, are going dwelling. Alex Pantling/Getty Photos

In the meantime over at Manchester’s Academy Stadium, group underdogs Belgium took an surprising lead towards an Italy aspect who’d solely been getting worse by the minute. The aim (and eventual 1-0 win) sufficient to shift the group standings and go away Iceland needing two towards France, Stelpurnar okkar having been leapfrogged by the Pink Flames.

Issues quick went from dangerous to worse for Iceland as Jónsdóttir was pressured off with an leg harm moments after the crew squandered one other likelihood, this time from captain Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir who nodded simply broad.

With that mentality on present as they continued to push, their endeavours incomes them a penalty deep, deep into stoppage time, VAR as soon as once more coming to their help, clarifying a foul that hadn’t been overtly clear in actual time. The spot kick transformed by Dagný Brynjarsdóttir however any hope it gave Iceland was short-lived, the match over earlier than France even had time to restart.

It did nevertheless earn Iceland the sad distinction of being the one crew to get knocked out of the Euros with out having misplaced a recreation, their hat trick of attracts not sufficient to see them by way of to the final eight.

“I am very upset that we did not undergo however on the identical time I am extraordinarily pleased with the crew,” Viggósdóttir mentioned afterward. “I feel we performed superb recreation at this time, we’re undefeated within the group. However sadly that wasn’t sufficient.”

On the night time, each groups had been responsible of failing to take their higher possibilities, France more likely to really feel laborious carried out by the repeated intervention of the VAR, but the killer edge they boasted towards Italy wasn’t on present. France supervisor coach Corinne Diacre did not put forth her strongest XI obtainable, however with the onus on the collective which means she ought to have the ability to chop and alter her crew with out it detracting from their general power.

“This night I used to be in a position to give taking part in time to different gamers, and that went very properly. We [also] haven’t any new accidents… and that’s necessary,” Diacre mentioned. “We have to be extra medical. If we will take all our possibilities that will be a lot better. However what issues is creating possibilities, if you happen to do not do you can’t rating.”

Simply as crew togetherness is vital for France, the identical will be mentioned for Iceland as Viggósdóttir had mentioned forward of the sport:

“As gamers, we wish one of the best for one another. We do not have the people which might be simply eager about themselves. We are going to do no matter we will to again one another up. If someone has gotten beat, someone else is there to again them up and I feel that is particular and that is a crew that I need to play for and that is so necessary.”

France’s success in England this summer season is but to be seen however, there will be no arguments that issues are trying good for Iceland and their Turf Era.

Supply: espn.co.uk