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Iceland reach World Cup finals for the first time

Gylfi Sigurdsson helped Iceland seal qualification for their first ever World Cup finals by scoring in an emotional 2-0 victory over Kosovo.

Iceland's players including forward Johann Berg Gudmundsson (L) and Alfred Finnbogason celebrate.
Iceland's players including forward Johann Berg Gudmundsson (L) and Alfred Finnbogason celebrate. Source: AFP

Holding the momentum from its inspiring run to the 2016 European Championship quarterfinals, Iceland topped  their qualifying group and advanced automatically to the finals in Russia next year at the expense of favorite Croatia.

Iceland is the smallest nation in terms of population - 330,000 - to make the World Cup.

Sigurdsson put the hosts ahead in in the first half and Johann Gudmundsson made it 2-0 in the second.

Iceland won the group by two points from star-studded Croatia, which beat Ukraine 2-0 in Kiev.

Ukraine was another three points behind Croatia in third, Turkey fourth, and Finland fifth. Kosovo completed its maiden qualifying for a major tournament with a single point.

Qualifying was all the sweeter for Iceland because it fell at the last hurdle in 2014 World Cup qualifying - to Croatia.

In the tightest group of European qualifying, Iceland entered the last round with a two-point lead over Croatia and Ukraine.

The fans at packed Laugardalsvollur Stadium had to be patient but the wait was worth it.


1 min read

Published

Updated

Presented by Yang Joong Joo

Source: SBS News




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