Have Iceland now had their time in the sun?

Until recent months, Iceland’s national football team enjoyed an unprecedented period of success. Not only did the Nordic nation qualify for Euro 2016, they recorded a famous 2-1 win over England to make the quarter-finals of the competition. The tournament was the first in which they had qualified for in the senior game.

It got even better for the tiny nation when they qualified for the summer’s World Cup by winning their group. They were in dreamland. Just like buses the nation had waited so for so long for qualification for a major tournament, then two came along at once.

Massive achievement for a minnow

In terms of population, Iceland at an estimated 250,000 people is the smallest nation to ever participate at a World Cup. To put that in context, Salford in Greater Manchester has a similar population.

It is an amazing achievement for Iceland to have made one major international tournament, never mind two in a row. Everybody involved in the Iceland set-up are now heroes in a highly patriotic land.

What goes up must come down at some point. Unfortunately, for Iceland their results have been poor in recent months. In fact, the 6-0 hammering at the hands of Switzerland in their first ever Nations League game means they are winless in ten official FIFA internationals.

They have a new man at the helm in Erik Hamren, who was appointed as boss in August. Predecessor Heimir Hallgrimsson is famously a dentist by trade and resigned after the team lost two of their games at the summer’s World Cup.

Former Sweden boss Erik Hamren certainly endured a baptism of fire against the Swiss, who cut through the Icelandic defence life a knife through butter.

Hamren has a major task on his hands trying to left spirits after that defeat. The fact that the minnows have been put in Group A of the Nations League does not help. Their overachievement in recent years has seen them ranked in the top pot of teams for the competition.

No doubt, the team will want to improve and develop by playing against quality opposition, but losing games on a regular basis will be bad for the morale of the players. In terms of quality, Iceland should probably be in League B, if that.

For so long, the Nordic nation has been far more than the sum of their parts. They do not really have star players, although Everton playmaker Gylfi Sigurdsson is a high profile player in a squad of lesser-known players. The team has been the star for the last few years. Unfortunately, the team has not been functioning as well in recent games as in the past, which has led to poor results.

Belgium up next in the Nations League

The games in the Nations League do not get any easier for Iceland, as the Nordic nation face a trip to Belgium on Tuesday, a game in which they are a massive 10/1 to win.

Iceland have made it their mission to cause upsets in recent years. However, it seems highly unlikely that Hamren’s side will come away from their trip to Belgium with anything other than disappointment.

It would be far too soon to say that Iceland’s time has passed. However, if it has the Nordic nation has provided us with plenty of magic moments in the last few years, of which they can be massive proud.

Have Iceland now had their time in the sun?