France vs Iceland: Decoding the phenomenon

(Baonghean.vn) - At 2am tomorrow morning (July 4), the final quarter-final match between host France and “Dark Horse” Iceland will take place at Stade de France. With a quality squad and stars who know how to shine at the right time, Les Blues are expected to decode the interesting phenomenon called Iceland.

Surely, before the EURO 2016 Finals officially kicked off, even the most dreamy people could not have imagined that the football team of a small island nation covered in ice all year round and with a population of only 330,000 people, where their players often play on artificial turf and for the first time participate in the continent's major football festival, Iceland, would advance deep into the round of 8 of the strongest teams in Europe at the moment.

Perhaps, in the minds of those who believe in magical fairy tales, the fact that this icy island nation has passed the group stage is a great success for a team without many stars in the squad.

The Icelandic football team is becoming an interesting phenomenon when it reaches the quarter-finals of EURO 2016.

However, that unthinkable is becoming a reality. When Iceland has taken fans from one surprise to another. To be fair, at Euro 2016, the small island nation of Iceland is leaving a deep impression on the audience when they have overcome much stronger teams to reach the quarter-finals.

They started their exciting adventure in a group with Portugal, Hungary and Austria. In every aspect, the above teams were clearly superior to the team from this icy island nation. However, football always hides many interesting surprises, in the first match, they stunned fans when they excellently held Portugal to a 1-1 draw, then Iceland once again shared points with Hungary and ended with a historic victory over Austria to finish the group stage in 2nd place, thereby winning a ticket to the knockout round.

Having convincingly passed the group stage, Iceland continued to create an “earthquake” in the round of 16 when they surprisingly defeated England with a score of 2-1. This is considered an unimaginable achievement, because in all aspects, the “Three Lions” team is superior in every aspect from class to people. With that unbelievable victory, Iceland deserves to be an interesting phenomenon at EURO 2016.

With superior class, it will not be difficult for the French team to decode the interesting phenomenon called Iceland.

In contrast to Iceland, the host team France came to EURO 2016 as the host and also had a quality squad. Therefore, they were naturally considered one of the top candidates for the championship. However, after what Les Blues have shown, experts and fans are skeptical about their strength and ability to win the EURO held in their home country.

Throughout their journey to the quarter-finals, Deschamps’ team failed to prove their superiority against the “underdogs” such as Switzerland, Albania and Romania in the group stage. Only thanks to timely shining moments from stars such as Payet and Griezmann, the “Gaulois” were able to defeat Romania and Albania to quickly secure a ticket to the knockout round.

Entering the round of 16, with only facing a mid-level team, the Republic of Ireland is an opportunity for the "Gaulois roosters" to show off their strength as championship candidates. However, what the team of coach Deschamps showed could not reassure fans, especially once again Les Blues had to rely on the timely brilliance of striker currently on the payroll of Atletico Madrid Club - Griezmann with a double scored to officially enter the round for the 8 strongest teams.

If we look at the journey of the French team at EURO 2016, there are similarities with the 1998 World Cup when they were the hosts. When Les Blues won the championship not by convincing play but thanks to outstanding individuals speaking up at the right time. This is the basis for fans of the blue team to have the right to hope that history will repeat itself once again.

Objectively speaking, the French team is showing superiority in every aspect compared to the small island nation of Iceland. Because in addition to possessing stars capable of turning the game around and the support of home fans. Coach Deschamps' team is holding the advantage in terms of head-to-head record. Accordingly, in 11 matches between the two teams, Iceland has not been able to enjoy the taste of victory (France won 8 matches, drew 3 matches).

Therefore, in the match taking place tomorrow morning, coach Deschamps' team will decode the interesting phenomenon called Iceland and thereby enter their name in the semi-finals to meet the German team.

Cao Anh