Despite their 5-2 loss to hosts France, Iceland’s Viking Chant has become an Internet sensation as their national team completed their vertiginous rise to the Euro 2016 quarterfinals. This is the story of how the chant came to be.

Stjarnan FC, from the small costal region of Garðabær in Iceland, are well known in the Icelandic first division for their novel goal celebrations. Over the years, their celebrations have been inspired by swimming, the movie Rambo, bobsledding, ballroom dancing, cycling, and even toilets, to name a few.See more news and guides for playing Cheap fifa 17 coins game at our site, you can also buy the Cheap fifa 17 coins from us.

In the summer of 2014, the club took their choreographed celebrations on tour after a third-place finish in the Icelandic top division, the Úrvalsdeild, gave them entry into the first round of Europa League qualifying. They also took a new chant home with them after a wild run all the way to a Europa League playoff meeting with Inter Milan at the San Siro.

Stjarnan breezed through the first round after blowing out semi-professional Welsh side Bangor City 8-0 over two legs and faced Scottish Premiership side Motherwell in the second round. The first leg was held in Scotland and Stjarnan brought a large faction of traveling supporters on the trip.

Our story now diverts from the pitch (Stjarnan drew Motherwell 2-2 and would go on to win the tie in the second leg courtesy of a stunning extra-time volley) to the stands, where the traveling supporters from Iceland took notice in an intimidating tribal chant that echoed from the home section at Fir Park.

It involved the supporters clapping and shouting in unison at an increasingly frequent pace before erupting in cheers — bearing semblance to New Zealand’s famous Haka. Even when the battlecry is performed by a small group of people it can be terrifying; when tens of thousands unite in the chant, it is breathtakingly chilling.