Icelandic Soccer Announcer’s Supremely Enthusiastic Shrieking Is a Must Listen
We've heard announcers go a little nuts when their teams pull out an unexpected victory -- to say nothing of how we react personally whenever our team wins something big -- but we think this sets a new standard. Have a listen and tell us if you've ever heard a man screech and wail with such undiluted passion and joy. We think not.
It occurred when Iceland's Arnór Yngvi Traustason scored a last-minute goal to give his team a thrilling, shocking 2-1 win over Austria in the UEFA European Championships being held now in France. Iceland, a nation of just 330,000 people, is the smallest country ever to qualify for the presigious soccer tournament. With this victory, Iceland earned an improbable second-place finish in their group and advanced to the knockout stage, where they will face England on Monday, June 27.
And if you're curious what those words actually do mean, the Rekyavik Grapevine offered this translation:
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!
(*”Þvílíkt og annað eins” is hard to relate in meaning, but a direct translation would be: “Such things and other alike.”)
Gotta love that Austria burn at the end. Go Iceland!