France vs. Iceland, Euro 2016: Live coverage and score updates

Iceland actually made a promising start to the match, with an early long throw causing problems in the French ranks. Gylfi Sigurðsson eventually managed to wriggle away from his marker and fire goalwards, though his effort was straight at France shot-stopper Hugo Lloris. The hosts responded with a long-range Dimitri Payet shot, but it did nothing more than sting the palms of keeper Hannes Halldórsson.

The underdogs remained admirably enterprising, though their strategy was soon left looking rather naïve. With one simple play France found themselves a goal up: a long, cutting ball from Blaise Matuidi found the onrushing Olivier Giroud, whose well-struck effort flashed through the legs of Halldórsson and inside the near post. Already things looked a little worrying for Iceland.

Iceland’s run in Euro 2016 will be remembered as the biggest underdog story of the year. The tiny nation has never made an impact in a major soccer tournament, and yet they are not only winning, but thriving. The team’s viking-inspired celebrations and remarkable win over England are the things of a feel-good sports movie, but nothing is like the scenes in Iceland’s capital Reykjavik, where fans gathered to see their team take on France.

Keep in mind that Iceland has a population of 330,000. This photo looks to be about 30,000 people. To put that in relative terms it would be like the Cleveland Cavaliers’ parade having three times as many onlookers.

However, from the moment they started their qualifying campaign, this Iceland team has made a habit of the unexpected. At their major tournament debut, the tiny Scandinavian nation have put in performances of passion and intelligence and fully deserve to be in this position. With little expectation on their shoulders, they’re sure to relish the opportunity to take on the pre-tournament favorites in their own backyard. Any French complacency could well be punished.

Attacker Antoine Griezmann showed his quality as he netted a brace in the 2-1 win over the Republic of Ireland last time out. Having started the match out on the flank, coach Deschamps moved him back into his preferred midfield role for the second half. He struck up a great partnership with target man Olivier Giroud, and it’s likely that’s how Les Bleus will shape up again on Sunday. Iceland will have to work hard to keep this big man-little man combo quiet.

Despite Giroud toiling throughout the first half, earning criticism from all quarters for his clumsy attempts at combination play, France coach Didier Deschamps resisted the urge to withdraw him. It was a decision that paid great dividends. Instead, France switched to an approach that exaggerated Giroud’s strengths, aiming long balls towards the Arsenal target man. By quickening their build-up play, France managed to find space between the Irish lines, space in which the outstanding Griezmann -- who had been shifted central after a nominal starting position out on the flank -- could do real damage.

There remains a long ball taboo in football, and it’s not without reason. As Spain showed in their three consecutive major tournament victories between 2008 and 2012, penetrative possession is by far the most dominant tactical approach that modern football has seen. But part of the reason for that dominance is that at an international level, only Spain are capable of executing such a style. The other big international teams often resemble a pale imitation of their Spanish counterparts, seeing plenty of the ball but failing to create many chances with it. When they end up winning — as the hosts did in late victories over Romania and Albania in the group stages — it looks more a happy accident than the smooth execution of a clever blueprint.