Faced with Iceland, the Blues were faced with a solid, organized and very aggressive team on the ball carrier. The Scandinavians have never given up and have long stood up to France, despite the tricolor domination in possession (78 %) and in occasions. Elias Rafn Olafsson has multiplied decisive interventions, pushing the attempts of Mbappé, Thuram and Barcola, and transforming each French foray into a challenge. Iceland even found the opening against the course of the game on an error by Michael Olise, Andri Gu insurance taking advantage of an ill-adjusted withdrawal pass to register 0-1 (22nd). A goal that could have given them a psychological advantage, but France was able to react quickly before the break thanks to the penalty transformed by Mbappé (1-1, 45th). The end of the meeting was marked by a constant defensive intensity of Iceland, which put the Blues under pressure despite the numerical inferiority after the expulsion of Tchouameni (67th). The tension culminated when Guðjohnsen seemed to register a double for his team, an action finally canceled for fault on Konaté after intervention by the Var (88th).
A decision that provoked anger and misunderstanding on the Icelandic side, for whom the goal would have been legitimate. Despite this tense scenario and a tight final score, France has kept its advantage and prevailing 2-1, but the Nordics can legitimately estimate that it was deprived of a decisive moment in this hanging match. “I think there was a fault, he pulled the jersey a bit, it was a pretty soft gesture. He is a fairly heavy player compared to my attacker. If we see in slow motion, obviously we can see something. France has played well, it did not panic, obviously there will be criticism, but it remained pro, it made a good match. It's a better team, but we were not far away ”said Icelandic coach Arnar Gunnlaugsson. But on the locker room, the bell sound is different.
An incomprehensible refused goal?
Indeed, at the final whistle, the 11 Icelanders shouted at the controversy: “I am extremely satisfied and proud of the team. The performance was excellent and we should have been drawn, but the referee did not agree. They created a few opportunities in the second half, but I think we managed to equalize. We observed the situation and there is nothing to complain about. If it's a fault, there are many in a football match“Explained ísak Bergmann Jóhannesson. The former international, Kári árnason, is also shown at the niche, mad with rage: “It is not a fault, never». Likewise for Bjarni Guðjónsson, former international player: “ What we are withdrawing from this match is that we can approach one of the most difficult outside games and be to a hair of it and perhaps deprived of a point». In any case, the players will not forget this match.
“”They created a few opportunities in the second half, but I think we managed to equalize. We observed the situation and there is nothing to complain about. If it's a fault, there are many in a football match. We deserved this point on one of the most difficult outdoor terrains in Europe. I am incredibly proud. It was a real performance“Concluded ísak Bergmann Jóhannesson. And on the fault that brought the penalty transformed by Mbappé, Jón Dagur þorsteinsson said: “It was frustrating not to get anything out of this match. Andri's goal and the fact of being an additional scorer for 20 minutes. It was exhausting not to get anything out of this match. It was very light. That's all I can say. I doubt that Andri would have obtained a penalty if it had been the opposite. It's like that. When the French face the Icelanders, they always underestimate them». This reserves beautiful games in October in Reykjavik.
