Everyone loves the good old underdog stories. Sometimes the best moments happen when no one is expecting them to – that’s what makes upsets and underdogs so magical. What were the odds that football in 2016 would witness not one, but two? First it was Claudio Ranieri’s rejuvenated Leicester knocking off the stranglehold of ‘The Big 5’ on the Premier League crown, and now it’s the turn of Iceland at Euro 2016 to turn around the odds.
Iceland’s success story seems nothing short of a miracle. Expected to be on their way back home already, they instead find themselves headed for Nice, unbeaten, confidence at peak.
The result against Portugal gave them belief and the conviction that was very much evident in their last-gasp win over Austria. The beautiful image of the players and the staff joining much of Iceland’s 330,000 population in celebration, singing in unison at the Stade de France was a sight to behold.
England, on the other hand, were left ruing a missed opportunity. With much still at stake, Roy Hodgson made as many as six changes for the final group game against Slovakia, a tactic much criticised following a tame 0-0.
While the result ensured Slovakia’s progress, Wales’ demolition job of Russia in Toulouse pushed England down to the second spot. The sweetness of the last-minute win over rivals Wales quickly turned sour as England found themselves in the tougher half of the draw, with a potential clash against Spain, Italy or Germany almost certain, if Iceland can be overcome.
Here are five players who could make the difference in the clash.
1) Harry Kane
Harry Kane hasn’t had a particularly great tournament so far, but it would be fair to say that he isn’t the only one. Goals have been hard to come by at this year’s European Championships and strikers are finding it tough to get themselves involved as midfielders dominate the scheme of things.
None would know it better than England’s Harry Kane. Coming on the back of his finest season yet at Tottenham Hotspur, the leading scorer with 25 goals in the 2015-16 Premier League season, Kane hasn’t found his scoring boots yet in France.
By Kane’s own admission, at a presser on the eve of the Iceland clash, he doesn’t remember having a sight of the goal against the compact defences of Russia, Wales and as a second-half substitute against Slovakia. The fearsome partnership at Tottenham with Dele Alli seems to have fizzled out in England colours as Alli, instead of the free role behind the front man, has been shunted to a deeper midfield position under Roy Hodgson.
Following a dull and almost boring goalless draw against Slovakia in their final group game, Roy Hodgson has come in for heavy criticism for his gamble to rest six key players with much still at stake. In a desperate need for goals, Kane is expected to earn a recall to the starting line-up in a three-man attack alongside Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge as the pressure on Roy Hodgson and England mounts.
2) Gylfi Sigurdsson
Highly-rated Swansea City star Gylfi Sigurdsson is the go-to-man for Lars Lagerback and Heimir Hallgrimsson’s Iceland side. A key figure in Iceland’s progression from lightweights to giant-killers, the former Tottenham man led Iceland’s Euro 2016 qualification campaign by an example, scoring 6 goals and creating another three.
After a relatively subdued opening game against Portugal, Gylfi Sigurdsson did well to send a reminder of his underrated talents in his team’s last two group games, being a constant nuisance for his opponents in his box-to-box role.
The technically gifted Sigurðsson has been described by his manager Lars Lagerback as being a ‘two-way midfielder’ for his game isn’t just limited to when he has the ball at his feet, his off-the-ball traits – movement and running the length of the pitch, craving for the possession are just as vital.
While Joe Hart hasn’t had much to do so far, he would still be kicking himself for palming that Gareth Bale free-kick into his own net. Now he comes up against another player who has the ability to make full use of dead-ball opportunities, practicing his free-kicks every day for 15 minutes after training and one can be assured that Gylfi would certainly fancy his chances!
3) Daniel Sturridge
Just ask any Liverpool fan and they’d tell you how frustrating the case of Daniel Sturridge really is. You only need to compare his goals-per-minute ratio with the best in the business to realise that there aren’t many better finishers in the game than a fit and fighting Sturridge. Unfortunately, much of that time is now spent on the treatment table.
After a difficult couple of years, Sturridge was handled more effectively by new manager Jurgen Klopp as he ended up leading Liverpool’s goal-scoring charts for the season, despite missing almost half of it!
An unused substitute in the opener against Russia, Sturridge’s introduction alongside Jamie Vardy did the trick for England as it provided the much-needed spark to help overturn a deficit to clinch victory over rivals Wales.
Yes, Sturridge might attempt audacious attempts from outside the box sometimes with team-mates free for a pass, but every good striker has a streak of selfishness about him. Who could’ve even considered an outside-of-the-boot finish in a Europa League final? Not many.
Reports on the eve of the match suggested England manager is expected to field Sturridge, Kane and Sterling in a 4-3-3 formation, with Vardy being an impact substitute. On current form, Sturridge is one of England’s best players at Euro 2016 so far and deserves the start upfront to deliver his true potential.
4) Aron Gunnarsson
Gylfi Sigurdsson might be Iceland’s star, but the England management have singled out Captain Aron Gunnarsson as the danger man, and they have a pretty damn good reason for doing so.
Just like the long-throw master Rory Delap before him, under Tony Pulis’ management at Stoke City, struck genuine fear among the Premier League defences, the phenomenal long-throws of Gunnarsson have had a similar effect at this year’s European Championships.
Linking well with Sigurdsson in the heart of the Iceland midfield, Gunnarsson is expected to be the side’s sheet anchor, the connecting link between the defence and attack. Staying rock solid in his position, making crucial interceptions and acting as a much needed shield for the defence, the Viking warrior will provide Sigurðsson the to license to roam free, causing havoc in the English back-four with his intricate pressing.
While for the Cardiff City fans, these massive throw-ins may have become somewhat a thing of the past, Iceland are very much expected to pack their defence on Monday night, relying heavily on Gunnarsson and his effective secret weapon.
5) Joe Hart
England and their dread for penalty shoot-outs – their Achilles heel is well documented. Four years down the line, after having been sent the wrong way in Kiev by an absolutely outrageous, yet casual Panenka chip from Andrea Pirlo, Joe Hart will be hoping the experience and disappointments of 2012 will only hold him in good stead if it comes to the same scenario once again.
Despite not having much to do in England’s group stage games, Joe Hart came in for heavy criticism and his place in the starting line-up under immense scrutiny, following him not being able to keep out a powerful, yet straightforward Gareth Bale free-kick. Mistakes have been far and rare, but the Bale error means that the spotlight is back on Hart, who is still very much expected to be England’s undisputable No 1.
With the arrival of Guardiola, the rumours regarding the potential signing of Marc-Andre ter Stegen from Barcelona won’t die down anytime soon, despite Hart being arguably Manchester City’s best player in the recently concluded season. Mistakes, however rare, wouldn’t be tolerated under Pep and whether this motivates the shot-stopper or adds to the burden remains to be seen.
