Cardiff City Mad
16-06-16, 09:00
City midfielder keeps Ronaldo in check as Iceland draw first ever games at Euro finals.
<p><img style="float: right;" title="C:WindowsTempphpA0D3.tmp" src="http://pictures.footymad.net/upload/120/889136-1.jpg" alt="C:WindowsTempphpA0D3.tmp" width="300" height="280" />Aron Gunnarsson captained Iceland on Tuesday night as they drew 1 - 1 witrh Portugal at Euro 2016 in St Etienne. After the game Ronald shrugged away Gunnarsson's attempt to swap shirts.</p>
<p><strong>St. Etienne, France. </strong>The contrast between the two captains summed up the difference between the teams as Iceland pulled off a shock 1-1 Euro 2016 Group F draw with Portugal on Tuesday (14/06).</p>
<p>On the Portuguese side, Cristiano Ronaldo, the immaculately groomed, handsomely paid Real Madrid striker who recently added a fragrance to his list of sponsorship deals.</p>
<p>For Iceland, bearded, red-faced midfielder Aron Gunnarsson who carries off the rugged Viking look to perfection and plays his club football in the second tier of the English league with Cardiff City.</p>
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<p>On an historic night in St Etienne, it was Gunnarsson who emerged as the moral victor after his team, representing a country of just 330,000 people, deservedly took an unlikely point against the group favorite.</p>
<p>Ronaldo's performance showed why he is still questioned despite his ability and dedication.</p>
<p>The triple World Player of the Year took every free kick in a potential scoring position, wasted them all, and missed an excellent late chance when he headed straight at keeper Hannes Halldorsson.</p>
<p>Gunnarsson, on the other hand, was inspirational. He egged on his team mates incessantly and wound up his opponents with niggly fouls before berating them for play-acting, all while managing to avoid a yellow card.</p>
<p>He continued the psychological war which co-coach Lars Lagerback started before the match when he described Ronaldo and Portugal defender Pepe as "excellent actors."</p>
<p><strong>Exasperating display</strong></p>
<p>It was a typically exasperating display from Portugal and enhanced the team's reputation for producing technically gifted players who do not quite live up to its reputations at big tournaments.</p>
<p>After a nervy start Portugal gradually imposed itself and seemed to have done the hard part when Nani put this group ahead just after the half hour.</p>
<p>But Portugal began the second half with an air of complacency and left Birkir Bjarnason unmarked to sweep home Iceland's 50th-minute equalizer.</p>
<p>After that Iceland was able to pack its defense, harry its opponent and play on its increasingly frayed nerve.</p>
<p>Iceland even managed to get forward and create further chances by exploiting Portugal's discomfort with high balls into the area.</p>
<p>Despite enjoying a whopping 72 percent possession Portugal struggled to create openings and, crowded out, Ronaldo was left to remonstrate with the referee at the final whistle.</p>
<p>"You can't put one player down to stop a guy like Ronaldo. It has to be a team effort, closing the areas," said co-coach Heimir Hallgrimsson.</p>
<p>"There were a lot of players responsible for Ronaldo tonight. We did a really good job."</p>
<p><em>Reuters</em></p>
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<p><img style="float: right;" title="C:WindowsTempphpA0D3.tmp" src="http://pictures.footymad.net/upload/120/889136-1.jpg" alt="C:WindowsTempphpA0D3.tmp" width="300" height="280" />Aron Gunnarsson captained Iceland on Tuesday night as they drew 1 - 1 witrh Portugal at Euro 2016 in St Etienne. After the game Ronald shrugged away Gunnarsson's attempt to swap shirts.</p>
<p><strong>St. Etienne, France. </strong>The contrast between the two captains summed up the difference between the teams as Iceland pulled off a shock 1-1 Euro 2016 Group F draw with Portugal on Tuesday (14/06).</p>
<p>On the Portuguese side, Cristiano Ronaldo, the immaculately groomed, handsomely paid Real Madrid striker who recently added a fragrance to his list of sponsorship deals.</p>
<p>For Iceland, bearded, red-faced midfielder Aron Gunnarsson who carries off the rugged Viking look to perfection and plays his club football in the second tier of the English league with Cardiff City.</p>
<div class="show-more">
<div class="more-content">
<p>On an historic night in St Etienne, it was Gunnarsson who emerged as the moral victor after his team, representing a country of just 330,000 people, deservedly took an unlikely point against the group favorite.</p>
<p>Ronaldo's performance showed why he is still questioned despite his ability and dedication.</p>
<p>The triple World Player of the Year took every free kick in a potential scoring position, wasted them all, and missed an excellent late chance when he headed straight at keeper Hannes Halldorsson.</p>
<p>Gunnarsson, on the other hand, was inspirational. He egged on his team mates incessantly and wound up his opponents with niggly fouls before berating them for play-acting, all while managing to avoid a yellow card.</p>
<p>He continued the psychological war which co-coach Lars Lagerback started before the match when he described Ronaldo and Portugal defender Pepe as "excellent actors."</p>
<p><strong>Exasperating display</strong></p>
<p>It was a typically exasperating display from Portugal and enhanced the team's reputation for producing technically gifted players who do not quite live up to its reputations at big tournaments.</p>
<p>After a nervy start Portugal gradually imposed itself and seemed to have done the hard part when Nani put this group ahead just after the half hour.</p>
<p>But Portugal began the second half with an air of complacency and left Birkir Bjarnason unmarked to sweep home Iceland's 50th-minute equalizer.</p>
<p>After that Iceland was able to pack its defense, harry its opponent and play on its increasingly frayed nerve.</p>
<p>Iceland even managed to get forward and create further chances by exploiting Portugal's discomfort with high balls into the area.</p>
<p>Despite enjoying a whopping 72 percent possession Portugal struggled to create openings and, crowded out, Ronaldo was left to remonstrate with the referee at the final whistle.</p>
<p>"You can't put one player down to stop a guy like Ronaldo. It has to be a team effort, closing the areas," said co-coach Heimir Hallgrimsson.</p>
<p>"There were a lot of players responsible for Ronaldo tonight. We did a really good job."</p>
<p><em>Reuters</em></p>
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