Iceland become smallest nation ever to qualify for World Cup finals

Iceland sealed their place in Russia with a 2-0 victory over Kosovo in Reykjavik, becoming the smallest nation ever to qualify for the World Cup finals.
Heimir Hallgrimsson’s team knew a win over Group I’s bottom side would guarantee top spot and an automatic qualifying place, and Everton’s Gylfi Sigurdsson settled their nerves with a superbly-taken goal five minutes before half-time.
Sigurdsson also set up the second for Johann Berg Gudmundsson midway through the second half as Iceland completed the campaign by winning their final three games, proving their run to the quarter-finals of Euro 2016 was no fluke.
An emphatic 3-0 win in Turkey on Friday had sent Iceland top of the group ahead of the final match, but they struggled to impose themselves against the group’s bottom side. Jon Bodvarsson’s far post header was easily saved by Samir Ujkani, before Milot Rashica gave Iceland a fright with a long-range shot which flew past Hannes Halldorsson’s post.
With their next attack, Iceland went ahead. Sigurdsson collected the ball on the edge of the area, wriggled his way past Amir Rrahmani and fired beyond Ujkani for his fourth goal of the qualifiers. The hosts were happy to sit back on their lead until Sigurdsson again got past Rrahmani and crossed for Gudmundsson to make sure of victory in the 68th minute.
Hallgrimsson, a part-time dentist who became sole manager after Euro 2016 when Lars Lagerback left to take the Norway manager’s job, was lost for words at the final whistle.
“This is really odd, I don’t know what to say. I mean... Pelé, Maradona, Aron Einar Gunnarsson!” Hallgrimsson said, referencing the Cardiff City midfielder at the heart of his side.
Qualification for their first World Cup is a remarkable achievement for Iceland, a country with a population of approximately 335,000. The previous smallest country to have reached the finals was Trinidad & Tobago in 2006 (1.3m people) followed by Northern Ireland (1.85m), Slovenia (2.08m), Jamaica (2.89m) and Wales (3.1m).
Substitute Aleksandar Prijovic struck in the 74th minute to ease nerves in Belgrade, securing a 1-0 win over Georgia that confirmed Serbia’s first participation in a major tournament since 2010.
Republic of Ireland’s away win over Wales meant that even a goalless draw would have seen Serbia through, but Prijovic’s fine finish from Aleksandar Mitrovic’s cross made certain of qualification, allowing home fans to celebrate in Red Star’s Rajko Mitic Stadium.
Croatia beat Ukraine 2-0 in Kyiv to secure second place in Group I and a play-off place. Andrej Kramaric’s second-half double earned victory after the hosts had looked the better side in the first half. Kramaric’s header from Luka Modric’s cross from the right broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute, before the Hoffenheim striker converted Ivan Rakitic’s through ball at the far post eight minutes later.
Asier Illarramendi scored a long-range winner for Spain in Israel, ensuring the Group G winners finished their campaign with nine wins from 10 games. Italy, already assured of a play-off place, won 1-0 in Albania through Antonio Candreva’s second-half goal.
In matches between already eliminated sides, Macedonia beat Liechtenstein 4-0, Finland drew 2-2 with Turkey and Austria won 1-0 in Moldova.

SOURCE : GUARDIAN SPORTS
posted by CAMPUS94