A forgotten suitcase delays Iceland's departure to Russia 2018
Iceland's coach, Heimir Hallgrimsson, forgot his suitcase on a bus heading north of the island instead of the team bus. This delayed their departure to Moscow for the first World Cup in the history of the Icelandic national team.
Before taking off from Keflavik airport, the coach left his suitcase on the wrong bus, causing a delay of 30 minutes.
"It was good for the boys, as they were able to make fun of me," Hallgrimsson told AFP on Sunday from the Icelandic team's training camp in Gelendzhik, by the Black Sea.
"I hope that's my only mistake of the tournament," he added, smiling. "He had his computer, with 20 years of work in it," said his assistant, Helgi Kolvidsson. "We went to the police to make the bus stop, while Heimir was forced to buy a round of coffees at the airport."
Iceland, who had a fairytale run in the 2016 Eurocup in France reaching the quarterfinals after eliminating England, will play their first World Cup in history.
Iceland's players will make their debut in Russia 2018 on Saturday against Argentina in Moscow, before facing Nigeria and Croatia.
One of their stars, midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson, will be "ready" to play against Argentina, as confirmed by the Icelandic coaching staff to AFP after a knee injury. (AFP)