Even if you’re an embarrassed Englishman, it’s difficult not to admire what Iceland have achieved this summer.
Their first time at a major football tournament, a population the size of Wigan… all that – and they’re in the quarter finals of Euro 2016.
Their win over England in the last 16 has won them a place in the hearts of many a football fan (and the entire Welsh team), and they’ll have plenty willing them on to beat France in Paris on Sunday night.
If you’re getting behind the Lars Lagerback’s lads tonight, you might want to check out this website. By entering your first name and your dad’s first name, you’ll be given your very own Icelandic name – appearing on the back of an Iceland shirt.
Here’s a sample of how it looks…
Get your own #ISL name ahead of the game tonight! – https://t.co/x5xjjxcJ91 #EURO2016 pic.twitter.com/Bv57kZHm0m
— James Masters (@Masters_JamesD) July 3, 2016
Iceland have held onto their unusual naming convention over the years despite pressure to adopt a more “modern” approach.
Rather than taking on the surname of your father, your surname is derived from your dad’s first name (or your mother’s, in some circumstances) with a “son” or “dóttir” tagged at the end, depending on your gender.
The unusual system led to the Icelanders setting a bizarre record during their opening round draw with Portugal.
