Icelandic clap has certainly caught the attention but where did you say it comes from?Iceland’s Aron Gunnarsson leads the celebrations on the pitch at Stade
de Nice after beating England on Monday night. Photograph: PA
The continent watched in awe on Monday night as players and fans alike from 330,000 person Iceland celebrated their last-16 victory over England - combining to perform the seismic ‘Huh’.
Iceland’s thunder-clap may fit the mould of an old
Viking war cry - but it is in fact a celebration with Scottish roots.
Inspired by the fans of Motherwell.
Like the oars of a Gokstad ship building up to a
battle-like momentum - when the synchronised clap and ‘Huh’ rise to a
spine-tingling crescendo - Iceland is inspired and the opposition
frozen.
'Huh' - Iceland via Motherwell
According to the sports team in Icelandic newspaper
Morgunblaðið though - the chant has no association whatsoever to the
nation’s Viking roots. But rather the Scottish Premier League.
They explained to The Irish Times that in
2014 Icelandic side Stjarnan went on a fairytale Europa League
qualifying campaign which ended in a playoff defeat to Inter Milan.
Along the way they met Motherwell, dismissing them
5-4 on aggregate. And it was during the initial 2-2 draw in Fir Park
that the Icelanders were first introduced to the equally terrifying, as
it is fascinating chant.
From here their mesmerised fan group - the Silver
Spoons (yeah, apparently they’re from the wealthy side of Garðabær)
brought the chant home and subsequently introduced it to the national
team fan group for the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.
Since then Iceland have faced the Netherlands,
Turkey, Czech Republic, Portugal and England to reach the last eight of
Euro 2016. The smallest country to ever compete in a major competition.
They’re certainly making their presence felt. Hell, by lunchtime on
Tuesday Iceland jerseys were sold out in Ireland!
Iceland’s Aron Gunnarsson leads the celebrations on the pitch at Stade
de Nice after beating England on Monday night. Photograph: PA
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