Iceland vs Austria - Iceland going all out to beat Austria in final group game

Posted Wednesday, June 22, 2016 by PA

Iceland have shrugged off their Hungary heartbreak and are going all out to beat Austria, according to joint-coach Heimir Hallgrimsson.

The smallest nation at the tournament were denied their biggest result when Birkir Saevarsson's own-goal rescued a 1-1 draw for Hungary in Marseille on Saturday.

Nevertheless, a win will send Iceland into the knockout stages, and they could even finish top of Group F.

"We have two points and are in a great position," Hallgrimsson told UEFA.com.

"Our fate is in our own hands and a win would guarantee us a place in the knockout stage. Victory would even see us top the group if Hungary fail to beat Portugal.

"If you had offered this situation to us prior to the tournament, we would have gladly taken it. We are thinking positively and feeling confident. We're going to win against Austria and progress.

"We're always learning. This is our first time at a major tournament and both the players and the coaches, as well as our football association, are learning a great deal.

"One of our aims for this tournament was to come out of it stronger than when we arrived."

Austria are also bidding to enter unchartered territory but they know only a win will be good enough to prolong their stay at the tournament.

They have yet to find the net in two matches so far but coach Marcel Koller is backing his side to find their form when it matters.

"It will be an intense game; both teams need a win," Koller told UEFA.com.

"We will need to battle against Iceland, that's their speciality. They're compact, they have real desire, but they can also play football. This will come down to both footballing and physical qualities.

"We just need to score. It doesn't matter how it goes over the line - all that matters is that it does.

"Austria have never got beyond this stage. It would be a success for the country, for the team and also for the backroom staff, who have also been working incredibly hard."