Agence France Presse
Paris, Sept 7: Iceland made footballing history as they qualified for a major tournament’s finals for the first time, joining the Czech Republic in securing their berth at Euro 2016.
The island nation, with its population of barely 330,000, became the least populated country ever to qualify for a European Championship thanks to a nervy 0-0 draw with Kazakshtan in Reykjavik Sunday.
Iceland only needed a point to secure one of the top two places in Group A, and captain Aron Gunnarsson of Cardiff City was sent off in the 89th minute just before celebrations erupted on the final whistle.
The Czechs sealed their place by beating Latvia 2-1 while the struggling Netherlands slumped to a potentially disastrous 3-0 defeat in Turkey.
First-half goals from David Limbersky and Vladimir Darida put the Czechs in control in Riga, and they held on after Arturs Zjuzins got a goal back for Latvia.
Meanwhile, the Dutch are in real danger of missing out on a European Championship finals for the first time since 1984 after suffering a second loss in as many games under new coach Danny Blind.
Holland fell behind inside eight minutes in a packed stadium in Konya in central Turkey to an Oguzhan Ozyakup goal and Barcelona’s Arda Turan doubled the hosts’ lead before the half-hour mark.
The Dutch were disheveled and Burak Yilmaz sealed Turkey’s win late on, as Fatih Terim’s side leapfrogged their opponents into third place in the section, leaving them in pole position to steal a play-off place.
Meanwhile, Wales will have to wait before clinching qualification for a first European Championship.
They knew a win at home to Israel in Cardiff would guarantee progress from Group B, but had to settle for a 0-0 draw after failing to find a way past Ofir Marciano in the away goal.
Belgium’s 1-0 win over Cyprus later Sunday, secured by Eden Hazard’s 86th-minute strike in toasty Nicosia, means Wales still require one point from their final two qualifiers next month, away to Bosnia-Herzegovina and at home to minnows Andorra.
Bosnia were comfortable 3-0 winners at home to Andorra, with Ermin Bicakcic, Edin Dzeko and Senad Lulic all scoring in the first half.
Italy edged closer to qualifying from Group H after
Daniele De Rossi’s sixth-minute penalty proved enough to beat Bulgaria 1-0 in the Sicilian city of Palermo.
The Euro 2012 runners-up are two points clear of Norway, who leapfrogged Croatia into second place thanks to a 2-0 win when the sides met in Oslo, Jo Inge Berget of Malmo scoring twice.
In the other game in Group H, Malta and Azerbaijan drew 2-2, with Rahid Amirguliyev scoring twice for the visitors on either side of goals by captain Michael Mifsud and Alfred Effiong for Malta.
