ICELAND’S 19-day-long dream is finally over. France delivered a rude awakening to Icelandic fans and players alike Sunday with a 5-2 Euro 2016 quarterfinal thrashing at Stade de France.

    Iceland fans sung and clapped. Players chased and charge. Everybody from the island nation of 330,000 shook with pride. But they were overwhelmed by rousing French chants and 11 players of unquestioned talent that coalesced at last to produce one of the most impressive performances at these European Championships.

    Perhaps Iceland’s luck ran dry. It was outclassed by Olivier Giroud’s powerful left foot. It was outclassed by Paul Pogba’s phenomenal physicality. It was outclassed by Dimitri Payet’s skill and Antoine Griezmann’s lightning-quick trickery.

    France’s stars didn’t even need 45 minutes to put Sunday’s game in their back pocket and turn their nation’s attention to a semifinal showdown with Germany.

    The underdog Icelanders began the night with fire, producing the game’s first shot on goal with an attacking move down the right. But after the opening five minutes, France’s quality began to take over.

    In the 12th minute, Blaise Matuidi beat Iceland’s back four with a well-shaped through ball, and Giroud smashed a bouncing ball along a slick surface and through the legs of Iceland keeper Hannes Halldorsson’s legs.

    As the half wore on, France’s pace became increasingly devastating. Iceland, celebrated by tacticians for its defensive organization, looked discombobulated as the pressure of France’s front six mounted.

    Pogba delivered the big blow in the 19th minute. He climbed above the Iceland defense at the far post to power home an unstoppable header.

    With France flowing freely from sideline to sideline and midfield to penalty box, Iceland’s best opportunity to inject some doubt into the game came via Aron Gunnarsson’s famed long throw. Kolbeinn Sigthorsson won the first ball, and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson the second, but the latter couldn’t keep his contested close-range effort under the crossbar.

    Despite their comfort, the French needed a third to really seal their supremacy. They got it three minutes before halftime from Payet. The West Ham star shifted the ball onto his left foot 20 meters from goal and slid his shot through traffic into the far corner.

    Minutes later, Griezmann made it four. The Iceland defense was wrong-footed by Giroud’s slight flick and outpaced by the pesky Atletico Madrid attacker. His clever chip bested a helpless Halldorsson.

    Iceland pulled a goal back in the 56th minute. Sigthorsson stabbed Gylfi Sigurdsson’s curling cross past.

    (SD-Agencies)