Jonsson in mood for a wind-up with Hearts teammates

But while joking he might wear his jersey from last night's second-leg win "just to see what happens," Jonsson admitted his joy was tinged with more than a little sadness that it had come at the cost of such sorrow to Scotland.

He said: "I do have mixed emotions, of course it was a great night for our team and Icelandic football, the first time in our history we have made it through to the finals, but Scotland has done well for me. I got my chance with Hearts and I feel I have progressed over the years.

"I think my team-mates at Hearts will be happy for me as a person. It's a sore one to take if you are Scottish but I might must walk in with my strip to see what happens."

If that was said with tongue firmly in his cheek, Jonsson wasn't kidding when he declared completing a 4-2 aggregate win at Easter Road had made the triumph all the more enjoyable, saying: "Going to your biggest rivals' stadium and winning gives you double pleasure.

"I've got a good record at Easter Road, I've still only lost the once there so hopefully I can keep it going when I go back with Hearts in a few weeks time."

Although Iceland's victory may appear emphatic, Jonsson insisted it was less comfortable than the final scoreline might suggest, agreeing the presence of so many full internationalists, 13 including himself, had probably given his country the edge over the young Scots.

He said: "I didn't feel we were in control, Scotland seemed more up for it in the first half, winning all the 50/50 balls and putting us under pressure.

"Our Under-21s were given priority over the first team and I think that definitely paid off for the future of our country's football."

Jonsson admitted he felt he and his team-mates could relax when Hoffenheim ace Gylfi Sigurdsson fired Iceland ahead in the 73rd minute only for their wild celebrations to be cut short as Aberdeen hitman Chris Maguire equalised spectacularly within 60 seconds.

The Gorgie player said: "You think that because you play each other in the SPL so often you know everything about each other then he does something like that. It was a fantastic goal."

Taken from the Scotsman