Iceland has become the media darling of Euro 2016. The team from the tiny country was one of the expansion teams added to this year’s tournament, and has overcome the odds to advance to the round of 16. After tying with Portugal and then Hungary, Iceland went on to defeat powerhouse Austria 2-1 in the last second on Wednesday. The reaction of the Icelandic announcer is one for the books.
The full video and a translation is at the Reykjavík Grapevine:
“It’s all open! Theodór Elmar is alone here on their side of the pitch. They are three on two! Emmi (short for Elmar)! Go into the box! Go into the box! EMMI! Ahhh… Yes… yaaaaa… yaaaaaaaaa… JAAAAA… JAAAAA… Jarghaah… we are winning this! We are through to the final 16! We are through to the final 16! We are winning Austria! The voice has gone! But that doesn´t matter! We have qualified! Arnór Yngvi Traustason scores! Iceland two Austria one! Þvílíkt og annað eins*! Þvílíkt og annað eins! What? The final whistle has been blown here, and never, ever have I felt so good! Arnór Yngvi Traustason securing our first victory! Never lost! Don’t forget… never lost! But the first victory a fact! Iceland two Austria one! Thanks for coming Austria! Thanks for coming!”
The Reykjavík Grapevine, an English language magazine that’s always a treat, is following the saga on its Twitter account with some awesome Tweets, from before the tournament started to trash talking the next opponent.
AND NOW WE SMITE THEM INTO TINY PIECES OF DUST & DESTROY THEIR GOAL WITH A BALL SET ON FIRE BY OUR VOLCANIC THUNDER. #Euro2016 #ISL
— Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 14, 2016
THE TIME OF SMITING AUSTRIA INTO THE JAWS OF OBLIVION ON OUR MARCH TO CERTAIN VICTORY IS NIGH. #ICELANDSMITES #ISL #ISLAUT #euro2016
— Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 22, 2016
And lo, the mayor of Reykjavík lost his shit #ICELANDSMITES #ISL #ISLAUT #euro2016 https://t.co/4jikbvAYFr
— Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 22, 2016
Smiting the English is also just called "the old days" in #ISL. #IcelandSmites #EuroSaga #ENGISL #ENG #Euro2016
— Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 23, 2016
The image at the top is from the Reykjavík Grapevine Instagram account, featuring the art of Hugleikur Dagsson. The Grapevine has been pointing much of its trash talk toward Cristiano Ronaldo of Spain’s Real Madrid and the Portuguese national team, the biggest soccer star of the day …so far. Iceland plays England next, on June 27th.