The Tiny Nations of the EU, Where Love Blooms the Biggest
Supporters and handball players of the Faroe Islands celebrate after their draw with Norway. Photo: Reuters
The Viking lands, surrounded by the sea and somewhat isolated from the rest of Europe, have once again expressed their patriotism in a spectacular manner…
Iceland, with a population nearly double that of Montenegro, and the Faroe Islands, home to roughly the same number of people as Nikšić, present a unique narrative at this year’s European Championship in Germany.
It’s not just due to the remarkable handball players from both nations, but primarily because of the passionate fans who crossed the Atlantic to support their teams in Munich and Berlin, making it feel as if the matches were being held in Reykjavik or Tórshavn.
It may seem incredible, but over 5,000 Faroese fans filled the stands of the “Mercedes Benz” Arena in Germany’s capital, representing an astonishing 10 percent of the islands’ entire population.
Their exuberant celebration following a draw with Norway stands as a memorable highlight.
Although the competition debut for maestro Elias A Skipagotu and his team ended after the initial round, it’s evident that this is merely the start of their journey in major tournaments.
Iceland, being one of the stronger national teams in Europe, is always buoyed by their legion of blue-jerseyed fans.
In Munich, there were more Icelandic supporters than Faroese in Berlin, and during the match between Montenegro and Serbia, their cheers for the “lions” echoed throughout the venue. This sparked counterchants of “Iceland” from our fans.
The Icelandic supporters are now headed to Cologne, where it’s anticipated that they will have a larger presence at the legendary “Lankses arena” than the Bavarians.
The “lions” had favorable winds
Montenegro, the third smallest nation in the European Championship, enjoyed solid support from the stands of the “Olympic Hall” in Munich.
The enthusiasm of the Montenegrin fans particularly pleased Serbian reporters, who noted: “There were significantly more Montenegrins today—dressed in their flag colors, they filled the arena in Munich. Their enthusiasm was palpable. Many traveled from Podgorica and other cities just for this match, despite being out of contention for the next round after two defeats against Hungary and Iceland,” reported “Mozzartsport” during the match between the “lions” and Serbia.
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