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EURO 2016

Iceland: almost 100% TV audience share for England humbling

Iceland's shock Euro 2016 win over England was watched by almost every viewer in front of a television in the tiny nation on Monday night. Follow the match
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La afición de Islandia celebrando la victoria de su selección.
Eythor ArnasonEFE

Iceland's shock Euro 2016 last-16 victory over England claimed an almost total clean sweep of television viewers in the North Atlantic island nation on Monday night.

Just 0.2% opted for another channel

99.8% of the country's TV audience tuned in to see goals from Ragnar Sigurdsson and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson cancel out Wayne Rooney's penalty as the Icelanders, competing at their first ever major tournament finals, booked a quarter-final spot to continue their heroic campaign.

Created specially for the European Championships, the Icelandic TV channel Sjónvarp Símans has achieved unheard-of viewing figures. In the side's final group-stage match against Austria, which saw Heimir Hallgrimsson and Lars Lagerback's men grab a last-gasp 2-1 win, it registered a 98.5% share of the audience - but Monday's triumph topped even that.

The Iceland team celebrate Sigthorsson's winner in Nice.
Full screen
The Iceland team celebrate Sigthorsson's winner in Nice.JESUS ALVAREZ ORIHUELADIARIO AS

Revelation of the tournament

Iceland - whose population stands at just 333,000, roughly equal to that of Coventry - have proved the story of France 2016, capturing the hearts of football fans across the continent with their displays.

And their feats have also inspired unforgettable moments such as the passionate commentary of Gudmundur Benediktsson, who followed on from his ecstatic screeches in the victory over the Austrians with a memorable encore against England.