Arnor Ingvi Traustason\u2019s breakaway goal at the death was a cruel finale for Austria, as Iceland weathered a second-half battering to set up an improbable round of 16 meeting with England.<\/p>\n
Johann Gudmundsson smacked a shot against Robert Almer\u2019s crossbar in the second minute, and the prodigiously cool-headed Icelanders were in front before too long.<\/p>\n
K\u00e1ri \u00c1rnason nodded on Aron Gunnarsson\u2019s long throw from the right for J\u00f3n Dadi B\u00f6dvarsson, who threw off his marker with one touch before sliding the ball past Almer with a second.<\/p>\n
Ari Sk\u00falason conceded a penalty after impeding David Alaba in the box, but Aleksandar Dragovi\u0107 pulled it onto the outside of Hannes Halld\u00f3rsson\u2019s right-hand post, possession percentages proving no comfort as Austria went into the interval a goal down.<\/p>\n
However, Marcel Koller\u2019s men emerged an altogether more fearsome beast after a half-time rethink, substitute Alessandro Sch\u00f6pf powering into the box and unhinging the Iceland defence before sweeping in an inevitable-seeming equaliser.<\/p>\n
It was an onslaught thereafter. Halld\u00f3rsson saved from Sch\u00f6pf, flipped an Alaba free-kick over, but insult was to follow injury \u2013 Elmar Bjarnason breaking deep into added time to set up fellow substitute Traustason\u2019s winner.<\/p>\n
Man of the match:<\/strong> How cool are Iceland?<\/strong> Defensive, maybe, but not negative, at their best the Icelanders exude a sense of glacial calm. Perfectly tooled to confound patient, stylish teams, they looked a deal more ragged when rushed.<\/p>\n Will that suit their next opponents?<\/p>\n Austria\u2019s half-time reboot<\/strong> Source: UEFA<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Arnor Ingvi Traustason\u2019s breakaway goal at the death was a cruel finale for Austria, as Iceland weathered a second-half battering to set up an improbable round of 16 meeting with England. Johann Gudmundsson smacked a shot against Robert Almer\u2019s crossbar in the second minute, and the prodigiously cool-headed Icelanders were in front before too long. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":224753,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nK\u00e1ri \u00c1rnason (Iceland) Centre-half \u00c1rnason took the honours in Saint-Denis for a terrific defensive showing culminating in a superb goal-line block \u2013 and capped by his assist for the opener.<\/p>\n
\nLars Lagerb\u00e4ck and Heimir Hallgr\u00edmsson have a smaller pool of players to choose from than any other side at these finals, yet they have made a little go a long, long way.<\/p>\n
\nUnlucky, perhaps, to miss a penalty, Austria reached half-time having played a game that suited Iceland, their 3-6-1 formation all bark and little bite. With Marc Janko and Sch\u00f6pf introduced, they battered Iceland. After retaking the initiative, and levelling on 60 minutes, the stage was set for a EURO-saving comeback, but they fell agonisingly short.
\n–<\/p>\n