After their heroic effort in the FIFA World Cup in Russia earlier this year, Iceland almost pulled off a major upset against eventual champions France on Thursday.
Goals from Birkir Bjarnason and Kári Árnason set up the Nordic nation on course for their biggest win till date before a brave performance by youngster Kylian Mbappe rescued things for Les Bleus as the riveting contest ended in a 2-2 draw.
Didier Deschamps handed starts to five players who played in that final against Croatia-with Raphael Varane, Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba, Olivier Giroud and Hugo Lloris. They also had Lucas Digne and Ousmane Dembele.
In the 30th minute, Iceland scored the opener Alfred Finnbogason, who had scored against Argentina, put in a ball for Bjanarson who in turn shot it into the back of the net, Gylfi Sigurdsson who has been in good form in the Premier League for Everton gave a cross to Árnason who scored from close-range through a header, sending the ball into the top-right corner.
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With France looking down the barrel for a good part of the match, it was in the 60th minute that the introduction of the game-changing Mbappe changed the match, and eventually the result. The young forward’s shot was initially saved by Iceland’s goalkeeper Hannes Thór Halldórsson but fortunately for France, it was turned in to the goal by Eyjólfsson. A penalty resulting from a handball in the 90th minute was capitalised upon by Mbappe as his shot, which landed in the top-left corner saved the World Champions from a shocking loss.
In Chorzow, it was a Ronaldo less Portugal which beat Poland 3-2 in the Nations League. Poland took the lead through a header from Krzysztof Piatek in the 18th minute before goals came from the in-form Andre Silva and Bernardo Silva. Kamil Glik’s own goal in the 42nd minute made things easier for Portugal after Andre had struck in the 31st and Bernardo’s goal in the 52nd took Portuga ahead 3-1.
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Although Poland pulled one back in the 77th minute through Jakub Blaszczykowski, it wasn’t enough to stop Portugal from walking away with the win.