Icelandic warriors warm World Cup hearts before biggest fight of their lives

By Andrew Warshaw in Moscow

June 15 – They’re back. And before they’ve even kicked a ball, everyone has fallen in love with them – again. Two years after making the quarterfinal at Euro 2016, guess what  were Icelandic head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson’s first words at his media conference on the eve of the country’s World Cup  debut against mighty Argentina.

“Before anyone asks,” said Hallgrimsson, “I’m still a dentist and I will never stop being a dentist.”

Priceless. And it got even better, not least when asked about his country’s special qualities.

“People can’t help but love us,” he replied. “We certainly feel it. We have not attacked anyone or been at war with anyone. Well, except the ‘cod war’ and nobody got hurt there.”

Hallgrimsson can’t hide his pride at being in Russia. Argentina, he said, was the biggest game in the lives of every one of his players – far bigger than England two years ago.

But there is serious side too. He believes 100% in his team who, he said, had planned meticulously. And woe betide anyone who uses the “M” word again.

“What we did two years ago was not a miracle,” he retorted when asked about Iceland’s exploits in France. “We are 22nd in the FIFA ranking and we won our qualifying group. We deserve to be here.”

“It’s down to knowing your strengths and weaknesses. We play a different style of football to many teams but if you work together as a unit then anything is achievable and I hope we can continue showing that. Anyone who thinks it is a shock we are here doesn’t know much about the Iceland national team.”

But how on earth will his team be able to cope with the other “M” word – Messi?

“I don’t have a magic formula. Everyone has tried everything against him and he always manages to score a goal. We’ll help each other and try to do it as a team. It would unfair to give one player the role of guarding Messi. But it’s not just Messi. They are crammed with talent. If you focus on one player, someone else will punish you.”

Win or lose, Hallgrimsson will probably end up in a bar somewhere during the tournament mixing with the fans.

“I understand that, for other nations, this is strange and probably couldn’t happen but it shows the unity between the fans and the team. It’s more than a football game – this is part of them. We give the fans ownership in the team and vice versa. You can see it in their eyes.”

But after their unexpected exploits two years ago, surely Iceland can only go one way: down. Not so, says the dentist.

“Icelandic football doesn’t stand or fall by the results in three group games. We know we can have the best game of their lives tomorrow and still lose to Argentina. That’s just reality.”

Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1711697571labto1711697571ofdlr1711697571owedi1711697571sni@w1711697571ahsra1711697571w.wer1711697571dna1711697571