UEFA EURO 2016

Iceland puts the brakes on Portugal

Over long distances, the game runs only in one direction, but in the end, the superior Team, don’t cheer. Favorite Portugal is not against outsiders Iceland, to a draw, – to the chagrin of Superstar Ronaldo.

So that no one would have expected: Portugal, with Superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has managed, despite great Superiority, no victory against “the football dwarf” Island. In the last match of the first preliminary round game day at the European Championships in France, the Portuguese from the Island, surprisingly, 1:1 (1:0) separated. It was a double Premiere: the Island state for the first Time in its football history with an EM on the court, and for the first time in the EURO 2016 was to St. Etienne, the venue. There 42.000 spectators saw first of all a well-deserved lead for Portugal by Nani (31. Minute) and the amazing compensation by Birkir Bjarnason (50.), gave the Icelanders their first-ever point at a major football tournament.

Dominant Portuguese

The roles in the duel between Ronaldo and co. and the EM-debutants were actually distributed, but the first Chance of the Icelanders: The former hope Heimer Gylfi Sigurdsson tested Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patricio twice in a row. Because the first shot was cut in Patricio, the second he noted in the Follow-up (3.). Now all were awake. Those who had expected that the Icelanders would just stand in the back, lurking on the counterattack, looked wrong. Instead, you played well, attacked the Portuguese early in the opening quarter of an hour nothing. The first warning shot on the Icelandic goal of the wolf then gave Burger Vierinha, goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson was able to clarify (18.). Then it was precarious: In the case of a cross from Ronaldo, Nani broke, sent by his adversary, and came directly in front of the goal a free Header. Halldorsson was the winner and saved with a block with his (21.). Four minutes later, Ronaldo himself went Halldorsson was an air hole, and the Icelandic goalkeeper was able to hit the Ball before worse happened. How long is the Defensive of the Icelanders would still hold?

Nani the Portuguese redeemed after 31 minutes with 1:0 – a earned guide

This question was answered a few moments later: After a flat pass from André Gomes from the right attacking side, Nani was once again completely free and slid the Ball in from five metres to Halldorsson pass to the short corner (31.). 1:0 for the Portuguese a deserved lead. Only towards the end of the first half, the Icelanders had some offensive actions. Powered by Birkir Bjarnason from the FC Basel, you appeared a few Times in front of Rui Patricio, without, however, compelling chances.

Bjarnasons ice-cold shower

The second pass, Ronaldo opened with a volley shot from 20 meters. He hit the Ball but not really and moved a few feet to the right (47.). The Superstar of Real Madrid and mourned the missed Chance, as there was on the other side of the cold shower: After a long cross from Johann Gudmundsson Portugal defender Vierinha and Pepe missed to accommodate in your back Bjarnason, who had no trouble moving the Ball from six yards with the inside of the right foot volley goal (50.).

Portugal showed just shocked, but then the pace and urged the new leadership. A shot from Ronaldo was blocked (58.), an attempt by Gomes explained Halldorsson for a corner (60.).

No one covers Birkir Bjarnason – the professional of the FC Basel thanks for the invitation, and meets for 1:1

20 minutes before the end of the Portugal Coach Fernando Santos Bayern-new signing Renato Sanches brought and it was dangerous. However, this had nothing to do with the 30 million man. He was only a spectator, as a Ronaldo free-kick in the penalty area curled, and the head of the ball extension Nani only just wide of the left post and past stroke (71.). Also Ricardo Quaresma, striker Mario Gomez at Besiktas Istanbul, came on as a substitute and added with a dangerous shot that deflected and nearly went in (78.).

To see, almost nothing at all was Ronaldo, who has always been covered closely and not one centimeter of space given to me. Usually a lot of, he, this, that, he, the Icelanders were gestures to the referee over a lightweight Jersey pickers complained to or about him on the feet. When he was in the 85. Minute after Nani but once in the Five-Meter space came to a head to the ball, was Halldorsson a second Time and held the Ball. In the direct return which Portugal’s goalkeeper Rui Patricio, as he parried switched to a rotating shot of Alfred Finnbogason from FC Augsburg (86.).

Finnbogason was also in the last seconds of the game, one of the main actor In the injury time, there was a free-kick from 33 metres, gates of distance for Portugal Ronaldo, the Finnbogason forced a fine save with his Arm. The next free-kick from 24 meters. Ronaldo started again, but shot only in the free-kick wall, and then the referee signalled the end of the game, under the loud cheers of the Icelandic Fans.

An exciting game with many goal scenes – here you can re-read the entire game history in Detail.