Corinne Diacre and her French side finished Group D unbeaten but were made to work hard to preserve that record as they played out a thrilling draw in which VAR starred and Icelandic resolve shone as a last kick penalty was despatched by Dagny Brynjarsdottir.
The only goal of a hotly-contested encounter up until the final kick - which simmered like the soaring South Yorkshire temperatures on Monday night - came within the opening minute when Melvine Malard sprung to their aid inside 60 seconds.
No fewer than two second half strikes would be chalked off by VAR for France as the Icelandic pressure continued to mount and it looked like a resolute French defence would hold out until VAR intervened one more time to award Iceland a penalty - which would be scored but too little too late for them to go on the hunt for a winner as the referee called time immediately after.
Having been successful in both of their previous outings in Rotherham, the French wasted absolutely no time in capitalising in familiar surrounds – despite Iceland being the ‘home’ team for this one – and got off to the perfect start with the opener coming inside one minute.
A slick passing move paved the way for Melvine Malard to carefully pick her spot with a nicely-placed finish which found the bottom corner, to put an early dampener on the spirits of their Scandinavian counterparts, who had been anything but frosty when it had come to whipping up a pre-match atmosphere.
Iceland were tantalisingly close to an equalising goal on 10 minutes, when Gisladottir rose highest to direct Jonsdottir’s corner onto the crossbar, as the French defence scrambled the ball clear of danger.
France were denied a second moments later thanks to a finger-tip save from Iceland stopper Peyraud-Magnin, who reacted quickly to get down and deny Baltimore after the ball broke to her in the area.
The Scandinavians kept pushing for an equaliser and forced a series of corners towards the end of the first half, Sigurdardottir caused havoc in the six yard box with her delivery, which was turned over the bar by Thorvaldsottir.
Malard came close to orchestrating a second and killer goal for the French when she intercepted a loose pass from Sigurdardottir and fed Baltimore, who was denied when the ball kissed the crossbar and bounced to safety via a deflection.
Iceland had their chances too and just two minutes later, Albertsdottir cut inside before forcing the ‘keeper into a fine low save.
With Belgium leading Italy in the other Group D encounter, Iceland knew they needed to get their names on the scoresheet to have any chance of progressing and almost did so when Gunnarsdottir saw her head clatter off the woodwork, once again from a corner.
With Iceland pressing for a way back into the game, they left themselves open to the sucker punch, which almost came when Karchaoui saw her delicate effort clip the crossbar before being scrambled clear.
France thought they’d found the clinching goal just seconds later when Malard added her second of the contest, turning home an inviting ball across the goalline delivered by Karchaoui, but following a VAR check, the strike was ruled out for offside.
Iceland – buoyed by the ruled out goal for their French opposition – refused to relent in their pursuit for an equaliser and knocked on the door again through Dagny Brynjarsdottir. This time, the forward worked room on the edge of the box, allowing her to crank up a left-footed strike which whistled just wide with Pauline Peyraud-Magnin at full stretch.
Substutute Grace Geyoro had the ball in the back of the net for Diacre's side - who must have thought they'd clinched it - only for VAR to rule out another goal, this time for handball.
Brynjarsdottir had been a constant thorn in the side of the French defence all evening and her eyes would have lit up when a ball bounced her way inside the six yard box following a free kick, but a full-blooded challenge between her and the brave Peyraud-Magnin in goal denied an almost-certain equaliser in added time.
With the Icelandic side still piling on the pressure, VAR would have one final dramatic act in awarding them a penalty, which Brynjarsdottir kept her cool to despatch, but having raced the ball back to the centre spot, the final whistle was blown, ending hopes of Icelandic progression from Group D.
Attendance: 7,392