Their fairytale run might have been thwarted by a superior France team on Sunday night, but Iceland coach, Lars Lagerback, is still proud of his team’s exploits at the 2016 European Championship.
The Nordic heroes were mauled 5-2 by the host at the Stade de France in the quarter-final to end their remarkable run at the tournament.
And Lagerback, 67, who was one-time coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, said it had been special to serve his country over almost five years, as he is set to step down with co-coach, Heimir Hallgrimsson, taking sole ownership of the coaching role.
“It’s been a fantastic honour for me these four and a half years,” Lagerback revealed .
“This tournament with all the fans coming here and what we heard from back home – all the positivity and all the interest – I feel it deep in my heart.
“Maybe I didn’t the first 45 minutes today but I have enjoyed every other minute with this team.”
France proved a class above in the last eight – with goals from Olivier Giroud (two), Paul Pogba, Dimitri Payet and Antoine Griezmann.
Lagerback was not shy to admit the better team won.
“I would like to congratulate France. It’s a fantastic team, even if we maybe helped them a little bit in the first half,” he said.
“[Iceland] worked hard and wanted it but we did not use our brains and play the normal way we do.
“We weren’t sharp enough in decision making and things like that. We did some silly mistakes and didn’t defend well as a team. We were very, very passive when we won the ball.
“It’s been a fantastic tournament so it’s a big thank you to everybody, including to you all [the media] – you have given our guys a lot of positive responses and respect like our fans have so I really appreciate that.”
