Episode Summary
Hosts
Graham Dunn, Jamie Rooney
Guest(s)
Release Date
4 July 2024
Duration
31 min
In this Reheated edition of By Far The Greatest Team, hosts Graham Dunn and Jamie Rooney revisit one of the most uplifting and improbable football stories of the 21st century — Iceland at Euro 2016.
Re-examining their stunning rise with the benefit of hindsight, the discussion explores how a country smaller than many football cities built one of the most cohesive national teams in modern tournament history. Under joint managers Lars Lagerbäck and Heimir Hallgrímsson, Iceland fused tactical discipline with national identity, combining Scandinavian structure and volcanic passion in equal measure.
The hosts revisit the unforgettable moments that defined Iceland’s campaign: the last-minute winner against Austria, the giant-killing of England in Nice, and the unforgettable sound of the Viking thunderclap echoing across Europe. More than a football story, Iceland 2016 became a cultural phenomenon — a victory for preparation, humility, and the collective over the individual.
Through modern context, the episode reflects on Iceland’s long-term football revolution: nationwide investment in coaching, artificial pitches, and youth education that transformed a small island into a footballing force. It also considers how the team’s spirit — part stoic, part joyous — captured the global imagination and redefined what was possible for small nations.
Nearly a decade later, Iceland’s Euro 2016 run remains one of the purest examples of belief, identity, and community triumphing against the odds.
Takeaways
Iceland’s success was built on community, structure, and belief.
Their tactical discipline under Lagerbäck was a masterclass in pragmatism.
The Viking clap became a global symbol of unity and pride.
The victory over England was more than an upset — it was a cultural moment.
Iceland 2016 remains one of the greatest underdog triumphs in modern football.
Iceland 2016 (Reheated): The Thunderclap of Belief
Iceland’s Euro 2016 campaign stands as one of football’s most inspiring underdog tales. A nation of just 330,000 people defied logic, history, and expectation to reach the quarter-finals of the European Championship — a feat built on unity, organisation, and belief.
Under the guidance of Lars Lagerbäck and Heimir Hallgrímsson, Iceland played with structure and spirit. Their 4-4-2 system was simple but devastatingly effective — compact in defence, lethal on the counter, and fearless in execution. The squad’s bond extended far beyond the pitch, uniting an entire country in one heartbeat.
The unforgettable victory over England in Nice stunned the world, while the rhythmic Viking clap echoed as a global symbol of pride. Every player, from captain Aron Gunnarsson to goalkeeper Hannes Halldórsson, embodied a collective dream decades in the making.
For Iceland, Euro 2016 wasn’t just a tournament — it was the culmination of a national project that turned passion into possibility.
Main Topics
Iconic Moments
Iceland’s grassroots football revolution and national identity
The dual management of Lagerbäck and Hallgrímsson
Tactical organisation and emotional unity
The victory over England and its global cultural shockwave
The legacy of Iceland 2016 on small-nation football
Kolbeinn Sigþórsson’s winner against England
The thunderous Viking clap at full-time in Nice
Birkir Bjarnason’s first-ever Iceland goal at a major tournament
Hannes Halldórsson’s heroic saves vs Austria and England
Fans travelling in record numbers, uniting the nation
The emotional homecoming parade in Reykjavik
Notable Manager
Notable Players
Gylfi Sigurðsson, Aron Gunnarsson, Hannes Þór Halldórsson, Kolbeinn Sigþórsson, Birkir Bjarnason, Ragnar Sigurðsson, Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson, Kári Árnason, Birkir Már Sævarsson, Alfreð Finnbogason
Style of Play
4-4-2 Formation, Compact Defence, Set-Piece Mastery, Direct Transitions, Collective Press, Aerial Dominance
Iceland’s approach at Euro 2016 was a masterclass in collective identity and tactical clarity. Co-managed by Lars Lagerbäck and Heimir Hallgrímsson, the team employed a compact 4-4-2 formation, relying on defensive structure, aerial power, and meticulously rehearsed transitions.
Defensively, they maintained narrow lines, reducing central passing channels and forcing opponents wide. The back four — led by Ragnar Sigurðsson and Kári Árnason — remained disciplined and aerially dominant, while captain Aron Gunnarsson screened intelligently in midfield. Ball recovery was followed immediately by quick, direct play into the channels or toward target man Kolbeinn Sigþórsson, supported by the late runs of Birkir Bjarnason.
Set pieces became a weapon. Long throws from Gunnarsson, inswinging deliveries from Gylfi Sigurðsson, and drilled corners epitomised their efficiency. Every movement was synchronised — the result of years of consistent coaching and player development within a national system that prioritised football intelligence over flair.
Yet Iceland’s style was not purely defensive. It was emotional football, fuelled by togetherness and rhythm. The Viking clap symbolised their connection with the fans — slow, deliberate, and united. They played not as eleven individuals but as a single heartbeat, reminding the footballing world that structure and spirit can achieve miracles.
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