Iceland Deep Freezes England or Miracle On Iceland

[Lake Gator]

I know there's not a lotta luv for futbol in SEC country and I'm not a huge fan either. But when nations big and small face off for World Cup or EuroCup play I take notice. This week started the single eliminaton round of EuroCup play to packed and very loud stadiums in France that rival any college football venue.

Iceland has a population of 330,000 which would make it the 59th largest city in the USA. 30,000 of them or 9% of the country attend the matches. The smallest nation by far in the tournament, they've played inspired ball and today found themselves opposing powerful England in a win or go home scenario. The supposed impossible happened. Iceland came from behind to beat England, 2 -1, and shock the futbol world. English fans are on suicide watch and Icelanders are partying like it's 1999.

A pleasant inspiring diversion during college football doldrums. It's on ESPN for the sports globalists among us.

 

[T REX]

Great game. Iceland is technically sound on defense. They played inspired. The sun doesn't set until after midnight locally so I'm sure lots of folks will be absent from work tomorrow.

 

[LongTooth]

It's certainly a nice way to forget the butt whipping put on the USMNT by Argentina last week. Ouch.

This round of the European Championship is certainly one for the minnows. Wales and Iceland are both into the quarters. It'll still come down to France and Germany though.

And if Iceland were ever going to beat England, now would be the time. England's national team is a complete wreck and has been wallowing in one of its worst declines for years. It's the result of the Premier League importing tons of high paid stars from all over the world to play pro ball there. It's great for the pro league's branding, but it has been terrible for the development of home grown talent. Rooney is the only world class footballer they've had for awhile now and no one else has appeared to support him or eventually take over his role. As a result, lots of nations have caught up to England's level or passed them by. England no longer expects .....

UF has been going through something similar for reasons specific to the college football culture but the results have been the same. The legends of Tebow's era were not replaced with enough elite talent to keep us on top and now we have to hope that Mac can rebuild the machine through recruiting and good coaching.

 

[MidwestChomp]

First the Brexit and now this. I love watching this Iceland team with their solid D and free flowing offense. England'scoach resigned. Maybe they should hire Iceland's coach.

 

[LongTooth]

First the Brexit and now this. I love watching this Iceland team with their solid D and free flowing offense. England'scoach resigned. Maybe they should hire Iceland's coach.

Coaching alone won't get England out of these doldrums. Just like UF, they've got a talent gap that they have to address if they ever hope to get back to prominence.

 

[chferg]

Coaching alone won't get England out of these doldrums. Just like UF, they've got a talent gap that they have to address if they ever hope to get back to prominence.

I wonder how their facilities are

 

[LongTooth]

I wonder how their facilities are

Their facilities are great. They just have no facility with the ball at their feet. Iceland's players have said they weren't surprised by the win and didn't feel pushed by the English team to any great extent. Oof.

 

[Gator Fever]

I still laugh about how we tied them in that World Cup by just kicking the ball right to their goal keeper and it being mishandled resulting in our goal.

 

[Captain Sasquatch]

I've had an irrational hatred of Iceland basically my entire life because of Wolf Stansson. What a dirty POS.

 

[T REX]

First the Brexit and now this. I love watching this Iceland team with their solid D and free flowing offense. England'scoach resigned. Maybe they should hire Iceland's coach.

England's coach was getting $4.6 mill a year.

Iceland's coach is a dentist.

Awesome.

 

[Gatordiddy]

Rooney is the only world class footballer they've had for awhile now

Their only 5 star according to Rivals

 

[rogdochar]

Hilda Luthersdottir, swam for the Gators 2010-2014, just qualified for Iceland's Olympic Swim team.
Placed first in 5 or 6 events. All individual events 'cept one relay.
5 other former Gators qualified for Rio -- representing their countries : South Africa, Spain, Poland,
Great Britain, New Zealand, Iceland.

More trials, more Gators still coming.

 

[Captain Sasquatch]

England's coach was getting $4.6 mill a year.

Iceland's coach is a dentist.

Awesome.

Wolf "The Dentist" Stansson!!!!

 

[Lake Gator]

First the Brexit and now this. I love watching this Iceland team with their solid D and free flowing offense. England'scoach resigned. Maybe they should hire Iceland's coach.

He used to coach Sweden and never lost to England. If you can't beat him, hire him.

 

[Lake Gator]

I wonder how their facilities are

Lacking. Iceland has indoor facilities and England doesn't. :)

 

[Lake Gator]

Hilda Luthersdottir, swam for the Gators 2010-2014, just qualified for Iceland's Olympic Swim team.
Placed first in 5 or 6 events. All individual events 'cept one relay.
5 other former Gators qualified for Rio -- representing their countries : South Africa, Spain, Poland,
Great Britain, New Zealand, Iceland.

More trials, more Gators still coming.

Sounds like the swim coach has a ways to go to lock down
in-state talent.

 

[Lake Gator]

England's coach was getting $4.6 mill a year.

Iceland's coach is a dentist.

Awesome.

England's coach is on the dole. Iceland's is still accepting new patients.

 

[Lake Gator]

Their only 5 star according to Rivals

What does Rivals know. They show all of Iceland's players as 3 stars or less.

 

[Lake Gator]

Their facilities are great. They just have no facility with the ball at their feet. Iceland's players have said they weren't surprised by the win and didn't feel pushed by the English team to any great extent. Oof.

From what I saw, the truth hurts.

 

[T REX]

What does Rivals know. They show all of Iceland's players as 3 stars or less.

The problem is most of England's are three stars too. They have very little in the pipeline.