DOWNTOWN — Lena Hallgrímsdóttir has a reason why Iceland pulled off one of the biggest upsets in sports history: a win over England in the Euro 2016 soccer tournament's round of 16.
"It's the Viking spirit," Hallgrímsdóttir said. "We're not afraid of anyone."
Hallgrímsdóttir, who lives in Humboldt Park with her husband, Einar Steinsson, is part of one of about 60 families in the Icelandic Association of Chicago. Steinsson, the president of the organization, moved to Chicago to earn a master's degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago in the late 1990s. Hallgrímsdóttir tagged along, eventually graduating from DePaul University.
They were among the 20 members of the association cheering for Iceland on Monday at Fado Irish Pub in River North when the team beat England 2-1. It was a historic upset for a country with a population of only 330,000 against one of the world's soccer powers. Iceland faces host France in a quarterfinal Sunday.
Listen to one of the most excited soccer announcers ever:
"Boy was that sweet. Our players are just great players, and they're working really, really hard," Hallgrímsdóttir said. "It's the spirit of not being afraid."
RELATED: Watching Euro 2016? Here Are Some Options To See Your Favorite Team (MAP)
More than 8 percent of Iceland's population is in France watching the Euro, probably the second biggest soccer tournament behind the World Cup. Hallgrímsdóttir said that doesn't surprise her.
"The whole Icelandic nation, wherever we are, we're always behind that team," she said.
Iceland's fans, both here and abroad, have rallied around the same phrase: "Áfram Ísland!" Hallgrímsdóttir said it means "Go Iceland!" but also "move forward."
"We're now replacing our usual goodbye with 'Áfram Ísland' — that's how wired we are," she said.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
