Iceland had never scored in two previous visits to Belfast but three goals in the first 37 minutes guaranteed the first points in Group F and left Northern Ireland players and fans stunned.
Eidur Gudjohnsen was given the freedom of Windsor Park and Barcelona’s new signing ran the show, with no Northern Ireland players anywhere near him.
An open first half, as predicted by Lawrie Sanchez, the Northern Ireland manager, at his eve-of-match press conference, was laden with goal opportunities but whereas the green shirts wasted all of theirs, Iceland created three and scored from every one.
It had started promisingly for the home team, roared on by a capacity 14,500 crowd, with Stuart Elliott and Keith Gillespie showing up well on the flanks. Indeed, Gillespie had the first goalbound effort on 12 minutes when he turned and twisted Hannes Sigurdsson and from his cross, David Healy, forced to stretch too much, headed over from eight yards.
A minute later, though, it all started to go wrong. Reading’s Brynjar Gunnarsson chipped the ball into the danger area, Stephen Craigan found himself marking both Kari Arnason and Gunnar Thorvaldsson. The ball fell to Thorvaldsson and he shot past an exposed Maik Taylor.
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The second goal was delayed for only seven minutes and more horrific home defending was responsible. Joey Gudjonsson’s corner on the left beat all the home defenders in a crowded penalty box and Hermann Hreidarsson, coming in at the far post, could not believe his luck as he fired home unmarked.
This time it was the 100 Iceland fans who were the noisier and suddenly Northern Ireland’s 2-1 win against Finland in Helsinki last month, which had sparked so much optimism at the start of this Euro campaign, seemed a distant memory.
Iceland were growing in confidence and when Steve Davis, from the edge of the area, shot straight at Arni Arason, the visitors went straight to the other end and won another corner. Again the home defence went awol and Ivar Ingimarsson, the second Reading player in Iceland’s team, won a free header but it flew over the bar.
The closest Northern Ireland came to scoring was on 34 minutes when Hreidarsson handled the ball on the edge of the area, but the big Charlton defender rescued his goalkeeper when he headed Gillespie’s free kick off the line.
Two goals up and comfortable in defence, Iceland could have been forgiven for sitting on their lead, but Gudjohnsen knew there was another goal for the taking and eight minutes before half-time he delivered it himself.
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Gretar Steinsson, overlapping on the right, crossed into the penalty area, Craigan’s weak header only landed at the feet of Gudjohnsen and the former Chelsea striker sealed a memorable first half with a splendid individual finish inside Taylor’s near post.
Sanchez admitted afterwards: “Iceland wanted it more but we didn’t defend properly. All three goals could have been prevented.”
The fans, however, voted the best in Europe last week, let Sanchez know what they thought of the team. “That’s the first time I have heard them booing but they deserved to. We have let them down," he added.
At half-time, Iceland were satisfied with their day’s work and in the second half they were happy to sit back and contain the Northern Irish.
Healy had the ball in the net before the hour, hooking in Clingan’s free kick, but the “goal” was disallowed because of pushing by Elliott.
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Healy headed into the side-netting and Davis and Clingan both shot wide when they should at least have forced a save.
Inevitably, Gudjohnsen had the last word. In stoppage time, he beat three defenders, only to be foiled by the feet of Taylor.
Four goals may have been harsh on Northern Ireland but it will get no easier this week. Spain, the group favourites play at Windsor Park on Wednesday and after a result like this Northern Ireland would normally need a miracle.
However, this week is the anniversary of Northern Ireland 1 England 0, so the fans will return as if the Iceland performance was just a bad dream.
Star Man: Eidur Gudjohnsen (Iceland)
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Player Ratings: Northern Ireland: Taylor 5, Baird 5, Capaldi 5 (Duff 76min, 5), Hughes 6, Craigan 5, Clingan 6, Gillespie 7, Elliott 6 (Lafferty 63min, 6), Davis 6, Healy 6, Quinn 5 (Feeney 82min, 5)
Iceland: Arason 6, Steinsson 7, I Sigurdsson 6, Ingimarsson 7, Hreidarsson 7, B Gunnarsson 6 (Gislason 74min, 5), Arnason, J Gudjonsson 8, Gudjohnsen 9, H Sigurdsson 7 (Jonsson 63min, 6), Thorvaldsson 8 Scorers: Thorvaldsson 13, Hreidarsson 20, Gudjohnsen 37
Ref: T Skjerven (Norway)
Att: 14,500