Football
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Iceland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson likens team to Leicester City

Iceland joint-boss Heimir Hallgrimsson has likened his side to Premier League champions Leicester following Monday's shock victory over England.

Hallgrimsson and Lars Lagerback's men pulled off a remarkable 2-1 win against the Three Lions in Nice to advance to a Euro 2016 quarterfinal clash with hosts France.

Iceland -- a country with a population of just over 330,000 -- have never previously qualified for a major tournament.

Leicester created shockwaves last season with their stunning march to the English top-flight title, a year on from a late surge away from the relegation zone.

And Hallgrimsson, quoted by uefa.com, said on Wednesday: "I really would like things to end like they did with Leicester.

"They played to their strengths and we are trying to do the same. I think there is the same kind of spirit in both teams, we are willing to work together.''

During a match on Monday that left England humiliated and prompted the immediate resignation of their manager Roy Hodgson, Hallgrimsson and fellow co-boss Lagerback were seen laughing in the dugout when Iceland scored their second goal in the 18th minute, 12 minutes after their first had swiftly cancelled out Wayne Rooney's penalty.

Asked on Wednesday about that, Hallgrimsson said: "It was just a moment of relief.

"We said before the match that conceding an early goal was the worst possible thing. To answer that quickly was a psychological boost for us.

"It shocked us a bit when they scored this early, but I think it shocked the English even more to concede right away.

"There was nothing special about that laugh, just in the moment, it was just fun.''

Hallgrimsson feels Iceland were somewhat "mocked'' by England before the game -- and that the pressure of the expectation they would win playing on the minds of Hodgson's men subsequently proved key in their downfall.

"The pressure was always so much more on England,'' he said.

"They kind of mocked us a little bit before the game -- but this was a game for us where we almost couldn't lose.

"We had already won our supporters over with good performances. Just to put in a good performance in that game would have left us as winners.

"When you can go into a game like that, you can go relaxed and show your best -- and against France it is exactly the same.

"The need to win was a big pressure on the English and you could see that.

"Normally those players perform better than they did against us. Maybe some of it was because of us -- and something mentally was not right, in their minds.''

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