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Lars Lagerback hails Iceland achievement

Lars Lagerback says that Iceland qualifying for the World Cup playoffs is 'truly special', and believes that his team can overcome the odds by reaching next year's tournament in Brazil.

Iceland coach Lars Lagerback has said that his players will "climb over volcanoes" to be a part of next year's World Cup finals in Brazil.

The Scandinavian nation - ranked 54th by FIFA - finished second to Switzerland in Group E of qualifying and are now 180 minutes from reaching their first tournament.

Portugal, Greece, Sweden or Croatia are among the teams that they could face for a place in the South American showpiece, and Lagerback said that anything could happen.

"To qualify for the playoffs is of course a big achievement for all countries, but this is truly something special," Sky Sports News quotes the 65-year-old as saying.

"We were definitely the underdogs. When you are in the playoffs, everything can happen and with the team we have got, we can always win over two matches.

"Everything is possible, we can climb over volcanoes with these lads."

Lagerback, who led Nigeria into the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, took charge of Iceland in 2011.

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Daniel Sturridge of England celebrates with Wayne Rooney of England after scoring from penalty spot during the FIFA 2014 World Cup Qualifying Group H match between England and Montenegro at Wembley Stadium on October 11, 2013
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