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Thanks for the memories, Iceland

Related Topics: Iceland, France, Birkir Bjarnason

SAINT-DENIS, France -- Iceland took one final photograph at the end, their arms wrapped around each other's shoulders, weighed down by a steady rain and a dream-ending 5-2 quarterfinal defeat to France. For the first time all tournament they turned their backs on their supporters, so they, too, could be in the frame. The thousands saluted and sang to their chosen few heroes, to their tiny giants. Even the victorious hosts offered a round of applause before they began streaming out of the Stade de France.

The defeated stayed. They had nowhere better they could go.

"It's been a fantastic journey," said Hannes Halldorsson, Iceland's filmmaker-turned-goalkeeper.