Photo by KSÍ Facebook

Yesterday was a big day for Iceland, and especially for their starting eleven, who took to the field in Saint Etienne to play Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal. We watched the game in reopened concert venue Nasa, and at the UEFA Fanzone on Ingólfstorg, and live-tweeted a couple of thoughts.

No pressure, like.

And now the unfortunate Portuguese will feel the mighty thunder of Þór's Icelandic warriors. #Euro16 — Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 14, 2016

It wasn’t long before Iceland’s Nordic dominance started to assert itself.

You can see the fear on our puny opposition's faces. They know the Norse hellfire that awaits them. #Euro2016 — Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 14, 2016

Gylfi unleashes a warning thunderbolt that nearly tears off the goalkeeper's tiny hand. Nice. #Euro2016 — Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 14, 2016

It got a bit heated.

ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME THE REF'S FUCKING BLIND, JESUS CHRIST. I mean, uh, a close call on the edge of the box there. — Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 14, 2016

Cristiano was sweating from the start.

Lol, #Ronaldo. Lol. The nerves are showing. He is scared of the mighty thrashing that is to come. #Euro2016 — Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 14, 2016

Portugal players seemed to go down easily, to put it mildly.

Even the breath of one mighty viking is enough to fell that Portuguese attacker, who fell without being touched. #Euro2016 — Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 14, 2016

Iceland tried a bit of failed tiki-taka.

That was almost, dare I say… an #Icealona-ish passing move. #Euro2016 — Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 14, 2016

The Icelandic goalie was having a strong game.

A weak shot from one of the wilting manboys of Portugal stopped with a flick of one mighty Icelandic hand. #Euro2016 — Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 14, 2016

When star midfielder Gylfi Sigurðsson went down after a nasty stamp, there was a collective gasp in the room…

Gylfi has bones made of solid basalt. Don't worry. #euro2016 — Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 14, 2016

Óðinn's breath propelled our heroic goalie to swat away that weak-ass header. #Euro2016 — Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 14, 2016

People all around Europe were getting behind Iceland.

68K tweets thus far about #ISL … and only approx 330K people living in Iceland. #EURO2016 , @rvkgrapevine — Steven Bright (@brightsteven22) June 14, 2016

Fair to say this is an alternative perspective of the Iceland game from @rvkgrapevine. https://t.co/aiFTo6X51M — Moments UK (@UKMoments) June 14, 2016

Portugal were dropping like flies…

Even the thunderous footsteps of Bjarnason approaching are enough to make the entire Portuguese defence collapse. #Euro2016 #ISL — Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 14, 2016

When will our secret bench weapon be unleashed? No, not the power of the god Týr—the volcanic force of Eiður Guðjohnsen. #Euro2016 #ISL — Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 14, 2016

Then it happened. Portugal went 1-0 up.

Iceland withheld a sustained bout of pressure from the Portugal side.

Now we really have them on the ropes. #Euro2016 #ISL — Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 14, 2016

Iceland pushed forward, and Portugal pushed back.

STONEWALL PENALTY SEND HIM OFF BEFORE HE IS SMITED BY LIGHTNING, IT’S FOR HIS OWN SAFETY. #Euro2016 #ISL — Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 14, 2016

The half ended at 1-0.

We went out in the sun to drink some rum and ginger, and were gifted a Carlsberg flag-cape (flape) by Grapevine staffer Helgi. It was to be powerful totem for the second half.

A photo posted by Reykjavik Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) on Jun 14, 2016 at 12:56pm PDT

People were starting to listen…

So, this commentary is grabbing attention. https://t.co/NFN1LsuFng — Itsmotherswork (@itsmotherswork) June 14, 2016

And the second half began!

AND NOW WE SMITE THEM INTO TINY PIECES OF DUST & DESTROY THEIR GOAL WITH A BALL SET ON FIRE BY OUR VOLCANIC THUNDER. #Euro2016 #ISL — Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 14, 2016

It wasn’t long before Birkir Bjarnason lashed home Iceland’s first ever major tournament goal. Practical the whole country leapt to their feet and screamed…

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAJHH

HHHHHHHHHHHTHJJJHJKHKJHH — Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 14, 2016

Ahem. If Twitter is inviting you to translate that goal tweet from Turkish, tell them it was a Viking battle roar. #ISL #Euro2016 — Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 14, 2016

We made the BBC television coverage.

Meanwhile, our defence was solid. Ish.

Now that defending was made of solid Icelandic… birch saplings. We don't have any oak. #ISL #Euro2016 — Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 14, 2016

Do they even know how close they are to certain destruction? #ISL #Euro2016 — Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 14, 2016

Oh no! The picture was knocked out at Nasa, and apparently, all over Iceland. We decamped to Ingólfstorg to watch in the sun.

Deep in the bowels of the earth, an ancient power stirs. Eiður is warming up. #ISL #Euro2016 — Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 14, 2016

Iceland were defending well.

GOALIE LIKE THE CLIFF FACE AT DYRHÓLAEY THE ONLY THING THAT WILL DESTROY HIM IS CENTURIES OF COASTAL EROSION. #ISL #Euro206 — Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 14, 2016

Aron Gunnarsson was the hero of the game, sending in tackle after tackle on the ineffectual star Cristiano Ronaldo.

NO PENALTY, NO PARTY pic.twitter.com/XCpEvCAAm4 — Messi World (@MessiWorId) June 14, 2016

After a tense three minutes of added time, the final whistle blew, and Icelanders celebrated deliriously in the streets of downtown Reykjavík.

This is but the first chapter of #EuroSaga. Now, our players frolic in the French fields and regain their heavenly energy. #ISL #Euro2016 — Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 14, 2016

Can't wait for the next Iceland match so there's more of this commentary. https://t.co/4kratdAvt5 — Cassandra Cavallaro (@cascav) June 14, 2016

Some of these tweets got over 900 RTs, and we were told Grapevine was trending in Edinburgh.

#ISL had a great game today, but best game commentary from @rvkgrapevine https://t.co/8K6x48SbcW — Brian Neary (@nearmiss41) June 14, 2016

Didn't know I gave a shit about football until https://t.co/WVsHwFfh4u — Ewawatch (@EwaSR) June 14, 2016

Congratulations @rvkgrapevine probably the best football commentary I've ever read! ⚽ #ISL — MiMi (@MiMiSweetTreats) June 15, 2016

Team @rvkgrapevine – I can't wait for the next match to hear what they have to say! #ISL #EURO2016 https://t.co/iLpumuP6AX — Cindy Murray (@C_L_Murray) June 15, 2016

Cristiano Ronaldo wasn’t happy about the crushing 1-1 loss, and proceeded to unleash some sour grapes upon Iceland’s heroic minnows, despite it being their first ever game in an international tournament finals.

Bad loser Ronaldo whines about Iceland's 1-1 victory over Portugal. https://t.co/yi3anYsvWH — Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 14, 2016

But Gunnarsson’s face says it all.

And now, having earned a famous first Euro group-stage point, Iceland march onwards! For our predictions on what’ll happen next, read our guide to Iceland’s path to certain victory at Euro 2016.

In case you don't realise how incredible it is that a country with a population of just over 320K is in #Euro2016 https://t.co/Lx0DpVpJX1 — Andrew Fraser (@Arfness) June 15, 2016

"We've seen all 24 teams, but none more spirited than Iceland" say the @BBC commentators.

Now I'm getting really excited to go to France. — Hrefna Helga (Habbi) (@HrefnaHelga) June 14, 2016

"We've seen all 24 teams, but none more spirited than Iceland" say the @BBC commentators.

Now I'm getting really excited to go to France. — Hrefna Helga (Habbi) (@HrefnaHelga) June 14, 2016

And now to prepare for battle against Hungary!

Also read: “Why Now?” Iceland’s Football Insiders On The Icelandic Game.

Also read: Football On The Edge Of The World—An In-Depth Look At Icelandic Football