PHOTOS: Iceland’s big night in images
Whatever the result to come, last night was always going to be a big night for Iceland – as the men’s team played their first ever match in the finals of a major international tournament.
Neither the team nor the fans disappointed on this most exciting of occasions.
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Iceland’s men, clad in their white away colours, repelled a strong onslaught of Portuguese attempts at goal with tenacious and disciplined defending. The Icelandic goalkeeper Hannes Þór Halldórsson played a blinder of a game, denying the Portuguese several chances at goal.
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Birkir Bjarnason’s 50 th -minute equaliser sent Iceland and its friends around the world into rapturous celebration, and a whole country was on the edge of their seats as Iceland battled on to hold giants Portugal to a very respectable 1-1 draw.
As fans return to work today – perhaps slightly hung-over – the attention of the Icelandic delegation in France will be turning towards the next challenge: Hungary on Saturday.
In the meantime, enjoy some reminders of last night’s joyous experience!
Here are fans singing the Icelandic national anthem in central Reykjavik yesterday:
And fans in the stadium singing Iceland’s unofficial campaign anthem ‘Ég er kominn heim’ :