Ragnar Sigurdsson has warned Iceland will not back down when facing England in Monday’s Euro 2016 last-16 tie, despite their excitement causing them to shout “we’re playing England!” following the victory over Austria at the Stade de France.
Iceland qualified for the knockout stage as the second place side in Group F following Wednesday evening’s 2-1 win, which came from the last kick of the game as Arnor Ingvi Traustason finished past Robert Almer.
This edged Portugal into third place and gives Iceland a meeting with England that Sigurdsson states is the team’s dream game. “We didn’t realise exactly the significance of the late goal out there, us playing England instead of Portugal,” he said. “But the moment the final whistle went everyone from the bench ran on the pitch shouting ‘We got England, we got England!’
“It is a dream come true for us. We have grown up watching the Premier League, and I have always wanted to play against England. We may not have players who all play for Barcelona and Real Madrid – but I believe we can beat England.
“Our faith and belief is what has got us so far – and some Icelandic pride. We do not back down from anyone, and that team spirit and belief helps us a lot.”
During qualification for the tournament Iceland beat Holland home and away, plus the Czech Republic and Turkey at home. Sigurdsson pointed to this record against the more experienced sides.
“We have beaten a lot of good countries and people are not surprised any more, but it is still a great achievement to get into the last-16,” the 30-year-old defender said. “We will not be overawed by England – even if we grew up watching English players, it was not these new guys. We don’t care, and will give it everything we have got.
“I have played against Spain, and when I am competing I don’t just sit and admire anyone, I try to break them down. Of course when you watch someone like [Andrés] Iniesta on TV you can enjoy seeing his skills, but in a match it is different.”
Sigurdsson echoed the view of his co-manager, Heimir Hallgrimsson, that emerging from the group is a landmark moment for Iceland. While Hallgrimsson believes it may lead to the country’s national holiday being changed from 17 June to 23 June, he said: “This is the biggest sporting achievement in Iceland’s history in my opinion. Some people might beg to differ. We have a world-class handball team who have been in many World Cups and Olympic Games, they have always been the main guys in Iceland.”
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