Saint-Etienne: Minnows Iceland earned a 1-1 draw with Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal on their European championship debut as the superstar forward failed to score as he equalled his country’s apparence record.
A superb finish by Nani gave Portugal the lead before Iceland’s industrious midfielder Birkir Bjarnason levelled for the Scandinavians. Ronaldo equalled Luis Figo’s record number of caps with both the Portugal legends now on 127 appearances.
However, it was a quiet night for the Real Madrid forward, who had 10 of Portugal’s 24 shots on goal as he was frustrated by Iceland’s dogged defence and a great display from goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson.
Iceland, the tiny North Atlantic island nation of 3,30,000 people, is the smallest country by population ever to feature at a Euro finals. Their small band of supporters ensured one corner of the Stade Geoffrey Guichard was a sea of blue shirts and exploded in delirious celebration after Bjarnason’s equaliser.
The silence of Portugal fans behind their own goal was juxtaposed by the sheer delight of Iceland fans as they celebrated a historic moment.
