Iceland's 'Ruligans' Are Riled Up

VOLGOGRAD, Russia — In the lean years of Icelandic soccer, roughly defined as the years before 2011, it was hard to get anyone excited about the national team. Icelanders tend to be phlegmatic. Their idea of an anti-government riot is getting together and throwing yogurt at the parliament building.

The soccer team’s terrible record did not help, even on the rare occasions when things went from bad to less bad. Arni Thor Gunnarsson, a longtime fan, remembers a match with Germany in 2003 that ended in a 0-0 tie — a miracle in a season in which Iceland eked out a single win, against the Faeroe Islands.