BOOM, BANG A BANG!

When Iceland beat England last summer in the Euros-surely you haven't forgotten that?-the outcome nine months later was a baby boom in the island's population. I was amused to read this article in the daily paper.

The Icelanders brought a new rhythm to football with that slow "Thunderclap"; starting slowly with a regular beat, then a build up of pace maintaining the pace and a final bursting conclusion, loud and final. Well that seemed to get the youngsters going back home as hospitals report extra activity in the "maternity units".

335,000 Icelanders have a true "island mentality" which seems to do more for them than for Gareth Southgate's England. There is a community spirit, a survival mechanism, everyone takes part in something, if you can't fish you might starve (healthy diet??), a small island mentality seems to unify.
The money from TV sponsorship is invested in grass roots and not into the pockets of the already relatively rich football clubs or associations.
I have mentioned previously the huge number of "football halls" built in conjunction with Local Authorities, vital under Iceland's climate.
Then there is the ratio of UEFA B Coaches (1:825 approx) compared to England (1:10,000) and coaches are paid.
The government buys land NEXT to schools and develops them into sports' facilities, often with artificial turf bearing in mind the challenges of the climate.
http://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/full-houses-in-iceland.html

NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES? if the FA had spread the £757million finance amongst grass roots, who knows how many youngsters we would have enjoying the great game. At the moment there is a big drive to "catch" more young girls in the football net and give them "elite coaching".

Perhaps Iceland will never win the Euros or World Cup but for one of the smallest nations in FIFA, they have hopped from 133rd to 33rd in the rankings. Where next?

What we do know is that in future there will be a few extra pairs of legs to boost playing numbers after the recent EURO BOOM!