Less than 18 months after sensationally knocking England out of Euro 2016, Iceland qualified for the World Cup for the first time on Monday following a 2-0 win over Kosovo. Needing victory to guarantee top spot in European qualifying Group I, goals from Everton star Gylfi Sigurdsson and Johann Gudmundsson ensured Iceland would be on the plane to Russia 2018. "I thought after Euro 2016 that the hardest thing would be to motivate ourselves again," admitted Iceland coach Heimir Hallgrimsson. "The first beer after a party is not the best. The hardest thing was to get going again after our massive party in France. And what’s more in a group contested between Croatia, Turkey, Ukraine and Finland, who are much better than their position in the group would have you believe. "The success is not an end in itself but a long journey towards a final destination."

Iceland players celebrate after qualifying for the 2018 World Cup with a 2-0 win over Kosovo in Reykjavik, Iceland on Monday. Pic/AFP