Sam Tillen Blog (6): Liverpool, Manchester United and the Premier League – Icelandic Style

Sam Tillen of Fram Reykjavik will be writing regularly for Les Rosbifs, revealing the behind-the-scenes stories and events of his team’s Europa League and PepsiDeild campaigns. If you would like to ask Sam a question, or leave a comment, please do so clicking on the link below.

The Premier League is back in England and nowhere was it more welcomed than in Iceland. It is very strange to see the fanaticism with which Icelanders follow their English teams here. Some I know have never been to Anfield or Old Trafford but the intensity of their support is easily comparable to the Scousers and the Mancs. As the world over, Liverpool and Manchester United are the two most popular English teams here. Just like any bar in England, you have to be the early bird if you are to catch a seat in the sports bars especially so when these two sides are in action.

Arsenal and Tottenham are well followed too; Tottenham particularly with the demographic who were growing up in the era of Hoddle, Perryman and co. Having been a regular visitor to Ölver, a bar that shows a multitude of live matches in outer Reykjavik for my football fix it is like a home from home in terms of football watching. A benefit also, is the fact that we can watch all the 3pm kick offs here something you are unable to do in England so we get the first opportunity to see the game live, instead of waiting to see it on the English national institution Match of the Day.

As a Manchester United watcher, goals are celebrated usually with high 5’s between friends and Glory Glory Man United is often belted out like they are sat in the Stretford End. There is also a preference for English commentary too, once a huge cheer went up when Stoð 2 the Icelandic sports channel was replaced by the knowledgeable tones of Martin Tyler. Elsewhere you know the season is in full swing as some fans replace their Iceland flag, swaying atop a flagpole at the foot of their garden for one baring the crest of their favourite club, something I have certainly never seen in England!

In terms of the Icelandic season after the round of games this weekend the table is very tight. We are currently in 4th place with a game in hand of the teams immediately below us although only 5 points separates 10th to 4th. We are 8 points behind second place with a game in hand.

We had a miraculous 3-3 draw the previous week against Breiðablik. We were 3-0 down until the 74th minute! I scored the first from the spot and we got the equaliser in the 91st. Our character was shown again on Saturday with a 3-2 win against Stjarnan. We were twice behind but we were by far the better side. Stjarnan have picked up 4 points away from home this season and 20 on their dangerous and outdated astroturf pitch. Perhaps this needs to be looked at by the KSI the football association here.

Unfortunately I, along with two team-mates missed that win due to suspension after receiving 6 yellow cards. I am not a good spectator so it was a long 90 minutes; it is very frustrating to miss games and some of the bookings I have felt were very harsh. Even so I need to be extra careful I do not pick up 2 more in the last 6 games as this leads to a further 2 game ban.

Yesterday was a big occasion for Icelandic football as ‘stelpunar okkar’ or ‘our girls’ as they have been dubbed, represented the country in a major finals for the first time at the Women’s European Championships in Finland. Unfortunately they were on the receiving end of two horrendous penalty decisions and ended up losing 3-1 to France, missing a penalty of their own on the way. They now have a tough task to progress as they face Norway and the formidable Germans in their remaining group games.

We have a big game tomorrow (Wednesday) against a resurgent Grindavik team as we bid to grab a top 3 place and a spot in Europe for the second season running.