Windsor Park, Belfast, September 2nd 2006, Iceland begin their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign with a fantastic 3-0 win over an inform Northern Ireland side. But it was nothing more than false hope, as a promising start to the campaign turned very sour.
Although completing a heart breaking double over Northern Ireland, which saw a David Healy inspired side narrowly miss out on qualification, it was overshadowed by maulings at the hands of Scandinavian foes Denmark and Sweden. The losses to their old rivals was hard to take, but not nearly as embarrassing as the 3 and 4-0 defeats to minnows Liechtenstein and Latvia respectively.
Skip forward a few years and another terrible qualifying campaign saw them finish bottom of their group as they attempted to reach their first World Cup finals. The next campaign ended in similar fashion, as they laboured to just one win and one draw to finish second bottom of their group.
A huge ash cloud was beginning to form over Icelandic football. They hit an all time low when they slumped to 131rd in the FIFA rankings, 13 places below Nordic neighbour The Faroe Islands. Iceland could no longer bank on ageing local hero Eidur Gudjohnsen. They needed something fresh. They needed to spring some life in to the national game at grassroots level. And so they did.
The Icelandic FA turned to a pioneer of Scandinavian football in the shape of Lars Lagerback. The Swede took over in autumn 2011 after leading Sweden to five consecutive major finals. He had the full backing of Icelandic footballs head honchos, in what was seen as a lengthy rejuvenating project. Although, it soon became apparent that Lagerback's lengthy project, might actually materialise into something special quicker than first thought.
Whether it be a stroke of luck or a stroke of genius, Lagerback had timed his arrival into Icelandic football perfectly. He instantly began to reap the benefits of a youth training initiative set up in 2003 by non other than Arnor Gudjohnsen, father of Icelandic footballing god Eidur.
Along with ex Arsenal player, Siggurdur Johnsson, Bolton's Gudni Bergsson and ex Hertha Berlin man Eyjolfur Sverrisson, Gudjohnsen senior founded the first football training academy in Iceland. The academy gave youngsters the opportunity to improve their footballing skills, whilst receiving schooling. The academy offered the best facilities available, the likes of which had never previously been seen in Iceland, and offered the best coaching from top professionals from across Europe. The academy aimed to better prepare young inspiring Icelandic footballers for the demanding nature of the professional game, and on the basis of the players Lagerback had inherited almost overnight, you could argue that the academy was in fact overachieving.
Lagerback's first full campaign in charge, began at home to Norway with a comfortable 2-0 win. But Iceland supporters were keeping their feet firmly on the ground, as they had been in this position not too long ago. And when they followed it up with a 1-0 defeat to Cyprus, a team even Lagerback's predecessor could beat, It was all looking very much like the ill fated Euro 2008 campaign, exactly 6 years ago. But this was a different Iceland, this was Lagerback's Iceland.
The squad that faced Northern Ireland and the likes six years ago, featured the odd English Premiership fringe player, a few Scandinavian based players and even a couple of semi-professionals. The new look Iceland side featured quality players from Europes finest leagues.
Their is no doubt the star man for Iceland is Gylfi Sigurdsson. The Swansea man dictates play in the middle of the park, chipping in with his fair share of goals. He is given the freedom to roam forward with the support from his captain Aaron Gunnarsson. The Cardiff City man has all the attributes of a Premiership player, and it won't be long before he is picked up by one of the top teams. Italian based wide men, Emil Hallferdsson and Bakir Bjarnason complete the midfield, adding quality and flair.
Iceland are not short of options up front either. Real Sociedad man Alfred Finbogason earned himself a big money move to Spain this summer after several promising years in Holland. And it is Holland in which strike partner Kolbeinn Sigthorsson plys his trade. The Ajax man has 16 goals in 26 internationals, and at the age of just 24, he is proving a real threat to Eidur Gudjohnsen's national goal scoring record of 24 goals.
A less glamorous back line is neutralised by the attacking prowess of the players mentioned above, and with talented youngsters on the fringes, Iceland are proving that they are now a force to be reconned with in European football.
Lagerback's successful first qualifying campaign ended in dispair with a playoff aggregate defeat of two goals to nil at the hands of Croatia. But, although Iceland had narrowly missed out on their first major finals, there was reason to be optimistic. Their was a volcanic eruption of confidence within Icelandic football.
The rise of Icelandic football is even rubbing off on the domestic league. Earlier this month, the league season came to the most dramatic ending. League leaders FH and second placed Stjarnan faced off in a winner takes all match, as both teams went into the final day unbeaten.
Stjarnan, best known for their comical goal celebration that went viral last year, took the lead, as they aimed for their first ever league title. Ex Glasgow Rangers man Steven Lennon equalised for FH, only for 10 man Stjarnan to score a 93rd minute penalty to clinch the title.
Just a couple of weeks ago, Icelandic football reached another high as they defeated The Netherlands 2-0 in their latest Euro 2016 qualifier. It seems that Icelandic football is going from strength to strength on all fronts. They top group A with 3 wins, 8 goals scored and 0 conceded, and with the up coming Euro 2016 being expanded to 24 teams, it seems that this could be Iceland's time.
At an all time high of 28th in FIFA's latest rankings, Iceland have gone from being the lowest ranked Nordic team to the highest in just two years. It is certainly proving that Lagerback's project is in full flow, so far ahead of schedule that he is already grooming Icelandic coach Heimir Hallgrimsson to be his successor in a couple if years time. Whether or not he will have the same effect as the veteran Swede, is something that will show over time. But one thing is for sure, is that he will be in charge of one of Europes most talented, upcoming, fashionable nations.
