ICELAND MADE FOOTBALLING history today as they qualified for a major tournament 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.
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 result allowed the side coached jointly by Heimir Hallgrimsson and the Swede Lars Lagerback to follow the Czechs and England in being able to book flights to France next year.
England became the first nation to qualify for the 24-nation jamboree on Saturday and 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, Wales will have to wait before clinching qualification for a first European Championship, and a first major tournament since the 1958 World Cup.
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 on 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.
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.
De Rossi and Bulgaria’s Ilian Mitsanski were both sent off in the second half, while Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon won his 150th cap.
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 either side of goals by captain Michael Mifsud and Alfred Effiong for Malta.