New York Stadium, the setting for this UEFA Women’s Euro tie between Iceland Women and France Women. France are already through to the Quarter Finals after winning 2 games out of 2 whereas Iceland are second in the group with 2 draws but Belgium and Italy can still qualify if they win and Iceland fail to win. A must win game for Iceland!
My first game of this tournament at last! Let’s hope it’s a cracker! It’s certainly a tropical climate tonight… A tropical climate on steroids more like… It’s BOILING!! Onto the X78 bus now for a change… My car is a sauna! Into Rotherham for around 6:30pm and now for the walk to the ground.
It’s certainly nice to see Rotherham being chosen to host games in this tournament I have to say which is bringing more to the town. Here I am at the ground and now the wait for Mr & Mrs Merry Miller which gives me time to look around the ground again at all the banners for the tournament.
10 minutes later and I’m starting to melt… I’m going in! £10 to watch this Women’s Euros tie! Belting! My third time in this ground and my first time in what is the away end of the ground and I have to say that you do get a good view of Rotherham from here! The atmosphere is starting to build around the ground now with the clappers being used.
Out come the teams and now for the national anthems. A good following here from Iceland tonight I must say! Let’s hope for some thunder claps!
Kick Off! Fance straight out of the blocks here with Clara Matéo down the right wing, she drives towards the edge of the box and plays it to Melvine Malard on the edge of the box to shoot… It’s a brilliant finish!! What a start for France!! About 44 seconds gone and France lead here in Rotherham! 0-1!
“Da da dadada dadadada Iceland!” Good noise so far from Iceland! Mr & Mrs Merry Miller are sat at the other end of the ground… 5 minutes on the clock and France lose the ball in their own half, it comes to Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir who goes for goal from around 20 yards out… Just wide!
10 minutes now and Iceland have a corner, in it comes… Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir is there with the header at the far post… Off the bar!! So close! Goal kick to France.
19th minute and France play down the right hand side, it’s crossed in, Sandy Baltimore gets a foot to it… It’s off the line by Iceland and they clear the danger. The Iceland fans are singing their team on brilliantly! And here comes that Thunder clap!
France are the better side here tonight so far and look more superior in key areas than Iceland but Iceland do possess a threat from set pieces especially. 40th minute and Iceland have a corner, whipped in… Keeper jumps… But she only gets a finger to it and it’s fallen to Berglind Björg Þorvaldsdóttir… She can’t get a hold of it and it goes out for a goal kick… They’re getting closer from corners. France lead 1-0 at half time.
Second half… I’ve made it to the other side and I’m now in the company of Mr & Mrs Merry Miller but more importantly, I’m closer to the noisy Iceland fans now!! “Da da dadada dadadada Iceland!”
55th minute and Iceland have it on the left with Agla María Albertsdóttir, she cuts inside and shoots from the edge of the box… Keeper dives and saves!
4 minutes later and Iceland have a corner, it’s crossed in… Sara Björk Gunnarsdóttir with the header… OH! It’s so close! Just wide again!
67th minute and France play down the left, they get into the box and it’s played across… Melvine Malard is there… It’s there! France have a second goal… But VAR will check the goal… It’s disallowed!! An Offside in the build-up and Iceland are reprieved! Here comes another thunder clap again!
76 minutes on the clock now and iceland play a ball forward to Berglind Björg Þorvaldsdóttir, she controls and makes space for the shot… OH! It’s just wide again! So close again for Iceland.
87 minutes now and France down the right, they get into the box and it’s played across… It’s loose… It falls to Grace Geyoro… She taps it home and that is the game now for France! 0-2! No doubt about that one… Hold on a minute… VAR is there again… Referee does the signal… No goal again! This time a handball in the build-up! You have to feel like it’s gonna be Iceland’s night surely!
Into the last minute of stoppage time and Iceland have a corner, is this their moment? In it comes… It falls on a plate for Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir… She’s blazed it over! That was the chance and surely that is that… Referee holds on the goal kick now… She’s holding her ear… Surely not! VAR is looking at a potential penalty check now… She’s going over to the screen… It’s not looking good fro France here…
Penalty! Iceland have the chance to level right at the death! The stadium is delighted! Including me! It’s going to be Dagný Brynjarsdóttir to take… AND SCORE!! Iceland have levelled! France are furious! Referee blows for full time straight away! It’s 1-1!
FT: Iceland Women 1-1 France Women
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 10/10 – Fantastic tonight! Very family orientated this competition which is brilliant! But the Iceland fans made it what it was tonight! Some of the best fans I have ever witnessed!
- Build-Up: 5/10 – Not much of a build-up sadly… They did have a band on at the ground but there wasn’t much else sadly…
- Expense: 10/10 – £10 for the ticket and £6 total for transport tonight, was it worth it? Hell yes it was!!
- Overall Experience: 10/10 – Absolutely loved tonight! Seeing the Iceland fans, a bit of drama at the end and getting from one side to the other! Fantastic!
35/40
It does make a change for Euro competitions to go to other grounds, instead of the usual OT, SB and Anfield.. Really enjoyed it by looks of the grading then mate.
I have been invited to go back to ST to photo the Chesterfield game on Thursday. So looking forward to that