Question Number: 32511

Other 6/16/2018

RE: Adult

Elizabeth of Chesapeake Beach , Maryland Usa asks...

Why was Iceland the winner in the tie came with Argentina?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Elizabeth
Iceland did not win. It was a draw.
The fact that Iceland who are ranked 22 in the world and a soccer minnow managed to hold mighty Argentina, a soccer superpower ranked 5th and potential World Cup winners, to a draw was seen by many as a fantastic *result* for little Iceland with a population of some 340,000 compared to Argentina with some 44 million.
For most of the game the Iceland players defended deep in their own half making many challenges and clearances with some great saves from the goalkeeper. The team dealt with all that was thrown at them to eke out a result.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Elizabeth,
Iceland was not the winner of this game - it was a draw (tie). People may have referred to this as a 'moral victory' for the Icelandic team since they are considered by many to be a relatively minor team, from a country with a population about 45 times smaller that the population of the Buenos Aires greater metropolitan area alone and Argentina is something of a superpower in world footballing terms.