Smallest nation ever to reach World Cup finals

Russia brace yourself — the “Viking thunder clap” is heading your way.

With a population of just 335,000, Iceland became the smallest country ever to qualify for the World Cup after beating Kosovo 2-0 on Monday to ensure the islanders topped European qualifying Group I.

Trinidad & Tobago, which has a population of 1.3 million, was the previous smallest country to reach a World Cup back in 2006.

Predicting Iceland would now win the World Cup, humorous Icelandic website the Reykjavík Grapevine tweeted: “The Ice Age cometh.”

Iceland’s Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson was the epitome of diplomacy, tweeting: “To Russia with love.”

Iceland’s team celebrate qualifying for Russia 2018

Iceland’s successful World Cup qualification comes less than 18 months after dumping England out of Euro 2016 to reach the quarterfinals before being beaten by France.

“Iceland have qualified for their first ever World Cup. They’re a bloody good side,” tweeted former England international Gary Lineker, who now works as a TV presenter. “Only losing 2-1 to them now looks a triumph…ish.”

It is estimated around 33,000 people — 10% of the population — turned up in the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik to give the players a hero’s welcome on their return from France back in 2016.

Qualifying from a tough group

“I thought after Euro 2016 that the hardest thing would be to motivate ourselves again,” Iceland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson, who is a part-time dentist, told reporters after goals from Gylfi Sigurdsson and Johann Gudmundsson secured his team’s win over Kosovo.

The fireworks rocketed into the sky above the Laugardalsvollur stadium to celebrate Iceland’s success in automatically qualifying from a tough group that included more established sides like Croatia, Turkey, Ukraine and Finland.

Iceland’s national team football players and coaching staff celebrate with fans at Ingolfstorg square

“The first beer after a party is not the best,” added Hallgrimsson. “The hardest thing was to get going again after our massive party in France.

“And what’s more in a group contested between Croatia, Turkey, Ukraine and Finland, who are much better than their position in the group would have you believe.

“The success is not an end in itself but a long journey towards a final destination.”

Academic and author Viðar Halldórsson who wrote “Sport in Iceland: How small nations achieve international success” tweeted: “It’s not genes, it’s culture, organization and bunch of character!”

Kosovo, which has population of 1.8 million, managed to secure just one point from its World Cup qualification campaign, but the team coach Albert Bunjaki had nothing but praise for Iceland.

“Congratulations to the whole Iceland team and to Icelanders,” Bunjaki told reporters.

“It’s a great example for small nations like our own who aim to have a good team, well organized, in the future.”

Iceland will be one of 32 nations at the World Cup in 2018, with the draw for the tournament to take place inside the concert hall at Moscow’s State Kremlin Palace on December 1.

The 2018 World Cup’s first game will feature hosts Russia on June 14 in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.