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[Strax]

The Icelandic men's national team has qualified for the 2018 World Cup in Russia by beating Kosovo 2-0 at Laugardalsvöllur today. It is the first time the Icelandic men’s national team qualifies for the World Cup. Iceland becomes the smallest nation, by far, to qualify for the World Cup as the nation beats the previous record by a cool million. Trinidad and Tobago are the previous holders of the record as the nation of 1.365 million people qualified for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Icelanders numbered 338.349 people on the 1st of January 2017 so it is safe to say the record was shattered.

Iceland finished 1st in Group I, a difficult group featuring the likes of Ukraine, Croatia, Turkey, Finland, and newcomers Kosovo. The Icelandic team knew that a win was needed against Kosovo if either Ukraine or Croatia won the grudge match between the Eastern European teams, which took place at the same time in Group I. Croatia won the match 0-2 with two goals from Andre Kramaric. The Icelandic team showed composure and finished the mission led by part-time dentist coach Heimir Hallgrímsson. Goals by Evertonian Gylfi Sigurðsson and Burnley player Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson secured the victory.

Iceland will look to repeat the heroics of the EURO 2016 where the team gained a lot of admirers for their style of play. The team managed to make it to the quarter-finals of the tournament, beating the likes of England on their way there. The Icelandic fans will now return with their famous chant, the Viking clap, to showcase it on the biggest stage of them all - the World Cup beckons.

Strákarnir Okkar (e. Our Boys) beat Turkey emphatically 0-3 on Friday to put them in pole position for World Cup qualification. The World Cup will be the second major tournament the men's side qualify for as they went to the EURO 2016. The women's side has previously reached the EURO cup three times but the World Cup has eluded the Icelandic national football teams hitherto.

The team has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the footballing ranks as Iceland was ranked 19th in the FIFA World Rankings this July - after a low point of being ranked 131st in October 2012.

Link

 

[Bronx-Man]

Iceland only has 335K?! I thought every country on Earth has like a million minimum.

 

[adamantypants]

Lol my girlfriend's university stadium could seat a third of their entire country (U-Mich).

 

[Ravensmash]

Great for them. They were fantastic in the Euros.

 

[KeyBladerXIII]

...Iceland is that empty?!

 

[DamnBoxes]

I love you Gylfi

 

[Earthbound64]

I thought every country on Earth has like a million minimum.

Why would you think that?
Take a look at many of the island nations, for example.

 

[Mivey]

Is this the entire population? That's some dedication.

 

[Rekwest]

Lol my university stadium could seat a third of their entire country.

 

[Omega Kirby]

Just goes to show, Population isn't an valid excuse to as why your country is shit at football

 

[Strax]

The president watching the final mins of the match.

 

[Monkeyball]

My country is out with 60 times the people 😔

 

[johancruijff]

UUUUUUH!

Great stuff

Lol my girlfriend's university stadium could seat a third of their entire country (U-Mich).

Lol my university stadium could seat a third of their entire country.

You know adamantypants' gf?

 

[Bulby]

Look out England

 

[PreyingShark]

Just goes to show, Population isn't an valid excuse to as why your country is shit at football

Hasn't the US been proving that for a very long time though

 

[okno]

So effing proud of my tiny little country <3

 

[Madness]

Just goes to show, Population isn't an valid excuse to as why your country is shit at football

Who said it was? It has always been investment and sporting culture. Unless you have Soviet or Mainland China style forced government intervention, you need a strong sporting culture or tons of investment to dominate and even then never guaranteed. Canada and ice hockey, Jamaica and sprinting/track and field, Cuba and Dominican Republic in baseball etc.

But good on Iceland. They did great in the Euros.

 

[Anoregon]

Hasn't the US been proving that for a very long time though

Yeah but we use overall disinterest in the sport as an excuse so it doesn't count

 

[amanset]

Iceland only has 335K?! I thought every country on Earth has like a million minimum.

There's 53 that are smaller. Hell, The Vatican/Holy See has 792. I don't think they have an international football team though.

http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/population-by-country/

 

[Azuran]

Just goes to show, Population isn't an valid excuse to as why your country is shit at football

India proved that a LONG TIME ago.

 

[amanset]

Look out England

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/sport...d-cup-against-better-judgement-20171006137064

 

[Omega Kirby]

India proved that a LONG TIME ago.

Yeah I know, just saying

Look out England

Look out Netherlands, oh wait

 

[lastplayed]

Iceland only has 335K?! I thought every country on Earth has like a million minimum.

lol why

 

[Bonen no Max'd]

Iceland only has 335K?! I thought every country on Earth has like a million minimum.

look up microstates like Andorra or Monaco

 

[Ravensmash]

Look out England

Just checked the fifa rankings...

Had no idea that Wales were ahead of England

 

[SecretMoblin]

Valur still best club ;_;

 

[DukeBobby]

I love you Gylfi

I wish he played that well for Everton.

 

[Eternal Gamer]

Just goes to show, Population isn't an valid excuse to as why your country is shit at football

I learned this long time ago with Uruguay. Amazing feats in football for such little country.

 

[andythinkpad]

Well China will surpass US as the most powerful nation in about 10 years, they have been holding the largest nation not qualified for world cup badge since forever.

* except that one year where JP/SK hosted the world cup and Asia got more qualifying slots.

 

[Champion of the Wild]

Iceland only has 335K?! I thought every country on Earth has like a million minimum.

My country has less than 300,000 lol

 

[JonnyDBrit]

Look out England

Gonna be looking over our shoulders with this on the table.

Wish em all the best.

 

[Mr. Poolman]

I will cheer for a country on each continent.
As I am from Costa Rica, this is my Americas country.
Iceland will get my support for Europe.
And Egypt from Africa.
Still undecided on Asia and Oceania.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

After their performance in the Euros this was definitely coming. Nobody better fuck with Iceland.

 

[STI]

Is that Conor McGregor?

 

[Ruruja]

The one team I want England to avoid.

Still undecided on Asia and Oceania.

Gotta be Japan!

 

[CMojicaAce]

Happy for them. Always nice to see am underdog succeed!

Look out England

They can actually be drawn into the same group if they're in separate pots.

 

[Madness]

Is that Conor McGregor?

 

[McMoneyman]

Well done Iceland!

 

[Omega Kirby]

I will cheer for a country on each continent.
As I am from Costa Rica, this is my Americas country.
Iceland will get my support for Europe.
And Egypt from Africa.
Still undecided on Asia and Oceania.

Rooting for CR as well for Americas but seriously Concacaf is so boring, it's always the same three qualifying.

Where the other regions get nice surprises like Egpyt, Iceland and possibly Peru.

 

[Earthbound64]

I will cheer for a country on each continent.
As I am from Costa Rica, this is my Americas country.
Iceland will get my support for Europe.
And Egypt from Africa.
Still undecided on Asia and Oceania.

North America and South America are separate continents.
Also, who are you going to cheer for from Antarctica?

 

[Frozenprince]

Definitely be rooting for them to succeed.

 

[Az]

Rooting for them. That chant was amazing at the Euro’s

 

[kasrkinsquad]

There's 53 that are smaller. Hell, The Vatican/Holy See has 792. I don't think they have an international football team though.

http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/population-by-country/

Thay actually do.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vatican_City_national_football_team

 

[Kaban]

Hell yes. I will support the hell out of Iceland in world cup

 

[Cocaloch]

North America and South America are separate continents.
Also, who are you going to cheer for from Antarctica?

Turns out this is arbitrary, as is all language. In some places, including most of Latin America, people are taught there are 6 or even 5 continents.

 

[Skellig Gra]

Congrats Iceland GAF. Eat lots of fermented shark and drink terrible beer.

Is this the entire population? That's some dedication.

And they are all related, like a big happy Viking reunion.

 

[AmFreak]

Well China will surpass US as the most powerful nation in about 10 years, they have been holding the largest nation not qualified for world cup badge since forever.

* except that one year where JP/SK hosted the world cup and Asia got more qualifying slots.

They will qualify before they surpass the US.
They already are investing huge sums.

 

[Strax]

Thay actually do.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vatican_City_national_football_team

The team has been managed by Giovanni Trapattoni in the past.

Wut

 

[massoluk]

They only have that distinction because Vatican City is not in pursuit of Athletic fames

 

[Majine]

To be fair, pretty much anything Iceland does makes it the tiniest nation to do that thing.