On June 16 Icelandic goalkeeper Hannes Dor Halldorsson blocked a penalty kick from Argentine Lionel Messi, helping Iceland draw 1-1 against their more accomplished competitors at the World Cup.
He dived low to his right to deny Messi (who has a passing resemblance to Sergey Lazarev). It was a move Hannes had planned ahead of the tournament.
“I did some homework because I knew this was a situation that could come up. It was a long shot but it happened,” he said.
But as it turns out Icelandic goalkeeper isn’t just useful on the pitch.
Way back in 2012 he actually directed the music video for “Never Forget” — Greta Salome’s Eurovision 2012 entry for Iceland.
As you’ll recall, the video captured the mysterious, somewhat sinister feel of Greta and Jonsi’s Eurovision 2012 number.
It saw two children walking through a series of sweeping Icelandic vistas — think snow, shadows, moon and mountains — as Greta and Jonsi vogued and pouted to the camera.
Hannes previously worked full-time at the Icelandic film studio SagaFilm and has reportedly been promised his job back once his soccer career ends.
Iceland’s first-ever appearance in a World Cup football match follows its success at UEFA Euro 2016.
They delivered perhaps the most memorable storyline of the tournament by drawing with Portugal — Ronaldo was not happy— and then beating England in the knock-out rounds. They bowed out to France in the quarter-finals.
The perfectly synchronized chanting from Iceland’s small, but spirited contingent of fans also left non-Icelanders in shock and awe.
That Iceland viking chant is still terrifying when there’s only 50 of them. https://t.co/c3CHpMU5Yz
— Tommy de la touche (@john_neptune) June 15, 2016
Iceland is doing great in football the last couple of years. First the Euro cup, then they qualified for the world cup. And above all, their great match with Argentina (not the great team we knew until now). 1-1, and this guy the article is about saved a penalty shot by MESSI! Well done Iceland. Even if you don’t qualify, you will still be successful!
He saved a penalty that Messi shot so I’d say he’s a very good goalie.
I still remember that music video. It elevated the song so well!!
Wiwibloggs, you clearly have no news. Do you?
A lots of Prince Polo for Iceland <3
A man of many talents! I was impressed by his performance against Argentina.
World Cup and ESC connection, that’s nice.
Haha! I knew that William Lee Adams had written this article as soon as I saw the phrase “soccer career.” It’s “football” here, in Europe.
That Viking chant is terrifying. You could almost imagine them crossing the ocean to murder you.
Yeah, that chant is great. I love it!
Lol actually in Ireland you can’t really say football unless you’re talking about our own sport – gaelic football. Just to not be confused, I say soccer.
Good looking, athletic and romantic. Some people have it all.
So they’re “boycotting” Israel for human rights concerns but not Russia?
#logic
Haha, that’s iceland xD some groups of people are more sad than others apparently.
I would boycot Russia just for the way they treat animals like that poor bear. Otherwise i don’t care for their genuine love for putin and for planting models in the arena to pretend they are random fans.
As if anyone would ever boycott Fifa..
Well yeah we actually did….. http://icelandreview.com/news/2018/03/27/icelandic-government-boycotts-world-cup-russia
boycotters=losers
GO ICELAND, HÚH HÚH HÚH!!! <3
It’s crazy how every Icelandic soccer player has something to do with someone or something else important in Iceland.
Every Icelandic person has something to do with someone or something else important in Iceland because there’s only 300.000 of them. I bet everyone in San Marino is connected to someone important in San Marino too.
It’s football not soccer, Americans…