Much like training for the physical sport of soccer—sorry, football—live tweeting and subtweeting are social-media crafts that take months, possibly years, to perfect.
After Iceland’s 1-1 tie of Portugal in the UEFA European Championship, it would appear that the owners of the account Reykjavík Grapevine have been training their Twitter fingers for this momentous tournament.
And now the unfortunate Portuguese will feel the mighty thunder of Þór's Icelandic warriors. #Euro16
— The Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 14, 2016
On Tuesday, Portugal—the eighth-ranked team in the world—played Iceland, the smallest country to qualify for Euro 2016 and which is ranked No. 34. During the match, the Twitter account for the Reykjavík Grapevine, an English-language tourist publication for all things Iceland, reacted as any other impassioned fan cheering for a David against a team of Goliath-regarded proportions would: It trash-tweeted Portugal straight through it.
You can see the fear on our puny opposition's faces. They know the Norse hellfire that awaits them. #Euro2016
— The Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 14, 2016
From Iceland launching into the offensive to Portugal’s players collapsing one-by-one, the crew at the Reykjavík Grapevine kept Twitter fans engaged with biting comments and majestic hyperbole. The Guardian chronicled and contextualized the account’s Twitter rampage, but here is just a handful of our favorite drags.
Gylfi unleashed a warning thunderbolt that nearly tears off the goalkeeper's tiny hand. Nice. #Euro2016
— The Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 14, 2016
Lol. Ronaldo. Lol. The nerves are showing. He is scared of the mighty thrashing that is to come. #Euro2016
— The Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 14, 2016
A weak shot from one of the wilting manboys of Portugal stopped with a flick of one mighty Icelandic hand. #Euro2016
— The Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 14, 2016
Óðinn's breath propelled our heroic goalie to swat away that weak-ass header. #Euro2016
— The 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
— The Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 14, 2016
This is but the first chapter of #EuroSaga. Now, our players frolic in the French fields and regain their heavenly energy. #ISL #Euro2016
— The Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 14, 2016
Throughout the match, Iceland fans praised the publication’s brilliant commentary, with some expressing hope that the team makes it to the Euro 2016 finals, if just to read the account’s cheeky burns. Even Twitter’s UK Moments picked up on the action.
https://twitter.com/CenLD/status/742810102009344001
https://twitter.com/MD_KINE/status/742811952674672640
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
Football twitter was won tonight by @rvkgrapevine – have a look at some of their Nordic god-like tweeting. https://t.co/kmEvtWGBuB
— Dr Helgi (@doctorhelgi) June 14, 2016
I want #ISL to make it the #Euro2016 final just so @rvkgrapevine can keep tweeting commentary. Best comments on Twitter. Áfram Ísland!
— Robert the Red (@robert_the_red) June 14, 2016
Didn't know I gave a shit about football until https://t.co/WVsHwFfh4u
— S'Ewa'd Head (@EwaSR) June 14, 2016
https://twitter.com/UKMoments/status/742813701036707841
After Iceland’s win/tie, the Reykjavík Grapevine even jabbed at Portugal team captain Cristiano Ronaldo for his childish reaction to his team’s loss.
Bad loser Ronaldo whines about Iceland's 1-1 victory over Portugal. https://t.co/yi3anYsvWH
— The Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 14, 2016
Iceland plays Hungary next on Saturday at 12pm ET. Hopefully the team can pull its weight and continue to let Twitter bask in the glory that is #EuroSaga—at least for a few more weeks.