22:33:00
Three quick thoughts from Portugal's 1-1 draw with Iceland in their Euro 2016 Group F meeting at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard:
1. Iceland make history against Portugal
A comeback marks Iceland's arrival on the international stage, as the smallest country at Euro 2016 achieved one of the biggest results in their history. Birkir Bjarnason will now become one of their biggest heroes, as his fine 50th-minute volley levelled Nani's 31st-minute opener to claim a 1-1 draw.
It was Iceland's first goal at a major international tournament, bringing them their first point in their first match, and they were rarely second-best in this game. Lars Lagerback's side fully deserved the equaliser, and Portugal could not create enough to warrant much more than the draw themselves. Iceland just wouldn't let them create much.
It says so much that they kept a disappointing Cristiano Ronaldo so quiet, but this is a much bigger and better story than one about the most famous player at the tournament. It is a good team showing their quality, and illustrating they cannot be underestimated.
Right from the start, they were getting in Portuguese faces and making life difficult for them. Portugal did rise to the challenge, to be fair, and it does look like there could be some potential in that team to do something good in this tournament. They are a much better mix of young and old than might have been expected and, with a bit more cohesion and with Ronaldo in a bit better form, they can get as far as the semifinals.
It emphasised their quality that their 31st-minute goal didn't even involve Ronaldo, as Andre Gomes played a supreme swift ball to then set up Nani for a sleek finish from close range. For a period, it did look like Portugal could open up a proper gap between themselves and Iceland, but Lagerback's side just didn't let that happen.
Then, on 50 minutes, history happened. Portugal allowed Iceland plenty of time as Johann Berg Gudmundsson was given the space to pick the perfect cross, and Bjarnason then offered the perfect moment. There were raucous scenes, but it never went to Icelandic heads. They stayed so solid and resolute and, other than one Ronaldo header late on, always looked comfortable. Goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson typically saved that, just as he had done all night.
He was up to the challenge. His team are up to the fight. They're here, and it looks like it's going to take some work to remove them.
2. Nani not quite Portugal's hero
For some time in this game, it seemed like it was going to be Nani's great moment rather than Iceland's, and potentially the relaunch of his career at the top level.
That career has been quite an odd one, in that he probably hasn't made the most of his genuinely brilliant talent. Even though he has won a series of medals, the 29-year-old was rarely one of the dominant players in any of those victories, and really should be playing in a higher-level league than Turkey now he's at his notional peak.
A good Euro 2016 would aid that, and it got off to a great start with the fine goal that put Portugal into lead.
The nature of that sleek finish was Nani at his best, applying his ability in the most direct and accurate way, without even having to think about it. The fact it came at the end of such a brilliant move showed the way the forward should be used, as it maximised his speed as well as his technique at pace.
The problem was that we also saw Nani at his most frustrating. On 20 minutes, he wasted a much better chance to score, so poorly heading at Halldorsson. It ended up costing Portugal, as they were eventually pegged back.
Nani of course wan't at fault for that and did almost provide the winner with a fine 84th-minute cross for Ronaldo, but the key was he could finally have been the proper hero and the star. He did get a fine goal, but otherwise only decorated a game he could have decided.
3. Iceland prove they're for real
Iceland achieved something that will resonate for decades by just doing what they have so solidly been doing for the past two years: showing resilience, quality and a lot of defiance. The fact they managed to come from behind -- and also put Portugal under a fair amount of pressure in the second half -- shows that they are much more than the well-organised defensive side that many might have expected, but they did get this point thanks to fine work at the back and right through their team.
Beyond the obvious of keeping Ronaldo so oddly quiet, what was most impressive about Iceland's display was how regularly they disrupted Portugal's rhythm and play. They got in between the Portuguese lines excellently, clogging up the supply, and it said much that it was only a move of excellent quality that actually opened them up.
Other than that, Fernando Santos' side only really got behind their backline with hopeful whipped crosses. It's not exactly like Iceland were hanging on or desperate for the final whistle to come in order to claim the point. The reality is they are a much better side than that.
Portugal's biggest names found they were not to be patronised or faced down, and the 67th minute summed much of this up. First, Ragnar Sigurdsson made a fine tackle on Ronaldo in the box and took the ball off him in almost Fabio Cannavaro fashion -- it was that good a challenge. Then Jon Bodvarsson made himself known to Pepe by sending him crashing to the ground.
It will be difficult to ground Iceland after this.
Making history should rightfully cause hysterical celebration in the country, but they might get to enjoy even more. This is a team that will be tough to beat, and could yet get a big win at this tournament. They are so much more than a feel-good story. They are a properly good team.
Miguel Delaney is a London-based correspondent for ESPN FC and also writes for the Irish Examiner and others
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