No hooligans, Iceland fans are the coolest of Euro

MARSEILLE: A week after England and Russia supporters clashed and while flare-throwing and fighting have marred games elsewhere, fans of tiny Iceland say they prefer

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MARSEILLE: A week after England and Russia supporters clashed and while flare-throwing and fighting have marred games elsewhere, fans of tiny Iceland say they prefer hugs to hooliganism at Euro 2016.

Having the time of their lives, Icelanders told AFP in Marseille they have come to their first ever European Championships to have fun and feel part of Europe.

“I’m not sure life can get any better, it’s historic, great to be here,” Louise Ragnarsdottir told AFP on the seafront of the southern city.

“All my life I watched the tournaments on TV, now we are part of Europe’s party!” said the 28-year-old accountant from Reykjavik.

Some 27,000 Iceland fans have travelled to France, almost 10 per cent of the Nordic island’s 330,000-strong population. No smaller country has ever featured at a Euro finals.

“We live on a faraway island, just to go abroad at all is an experience,” said Ragnarsdottir.

After the Group F tie with Hungary on Saturday pockets of Iceland fans gathered in Marseille’s Vieux Port district to chant “Boom-BoomHoooo!”, leaping in unison on the “Hoooo!”.

“It’s our Viking song, synchronised and terrifying,” laughed Arni Gardar, an IT consultant from Reykjavik.

“But we don’t mean to be scary, we are good Vikings not marauders, actually very nice, we come in peace,” he said.

“They are the best fans we have seen yet,” said Karim, a cafe owner.