Iceland is in the house and on the board at the 2016 UEFA European Championship.
Birkir Bjarnason scored for Iceland on Tuesday in its Euro 2016 opener against Portugal. Bjarnason’s 50th-minute goal was the first in his country’s history at a major soccer tournament (at senior level) and will take its rightful place in history.
The moment Birkir Bjarnason made history for Iceland. 👏👏👏 #EURO2016 #PORISL pic.twitter.com/adV2UXtH4f
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 14, 2016
#EuroCup2016 goal recap: It's 1-1 #PORISL. 🇵🇹#Nani got the opener https://t.co/CeFCpN61am & 🇮🇸#Bjarnarson equalized https://t.co/xVCwdBLX8f
— Dan Bloom (@DanBloomSports) June 14, 2016
Click for ESPN’s video of Iceland’s goal.
Bjarnason’s goal led Iceland to a 1-1 draw. Portugal had been dominating before then, with Nani putting his team ahead 1-0 in the 31st minute.
1 – #ISL have scored with their first shot since the third minute. Erupt. #Euro2016
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 14, 2016
Bjarnason’s goal represents a triumph for Iceland; a country whose population of just over 330,000 makes it the smallest nation to ever compete at a European Championship. Citing UEFA statistics, FOX Sports reported Tuesday that eight percent of Iceland’s population has traveled to France to support their team at Euro 2016.
And Ice-men and Ice-women probably are going bonkers right about now.
Thumbnail photo via YouTube/Stadium Astro
