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Icelandic commentator Gummi Ben's 'hectic' morning after | Icelandic commentator Gummi Ben's 'hectic' morning after |
(35 minutes later) | |
Once upon a time, Gudmundur Benediktsson played football for his country. | Once upon a time, Gudmundur Benediktsson played football for his country. |
But the moment that shot him to global fame was not on the field - it was in the commentary box. | But the moment that shot him to global fame was not on the field - it was in the commentary box. |
Gummi Ben - as he is known - roared out a sustained, high-pitched torrent of joy when his national side scored a last-minute goal against Austria. | Gummi Ben - as he is known - roared out a sustained, high-pitched torrent of joy when his national side scored a last-minute goal against Austria. |
The goal saw Iceland through to the last 16 of Euro 2016 and knocked the Austrians out. | The goal saw Iceland through to the last 16 of Euro 2016 and knocked the Austrians out. |
And Gummi Ben's response was so loud, so boisterous, so exuberant, that his commentary has ricocheted around the world. | And Gummi Ben's response was so loud, so boisterous, so exuberant, that his commentary has ricocheted around the world. |
BBC Sport - Euro 2016 | BBC Sport - Euro 2016 |
Gummi Ben, who became a commentator after hanging up his boots in 2009, has been fending calls off all day. | Gummi Ben, who became a commentator after hanging up his boots in 2009, has been fending calls off all day. |
"It's been quite strange and actually hectic, because the phone hasn't stopped ringing," he told the BBC. | "It's been quite strange and actually hectic, because the phone hasn't stopped ringing," he told the BBC. |
"But I'm really enjoying it! It's part of the job." | "But I'm really enjoying it! It's part of the job." |
What on Earth was he saying? | What on Earth was he saying? |
Gummi Ben admits he doesn't have a clue what he said when Arnor Yngvi Traustason scored. | Gummi Ben admits he doesn't have a clue what he said when Arnor Yngvi Traustason scored. |
And even when his own commentary was played back to him on BBC radio, he still couldn't be quite sure. | |
But, thanks to Icelandic website The Reykjavik Grapevine, we have a translation. Here is part of it: | But, thanks to Icelandic website The Reykjavik Grapevine, we have a translation. Here is part of it: |
"It's three against two. Emmi (Theodor Elmar Bjarnason)! Go into the box! Go into the box! EMMI!" | "It's three against two. Emmi (Theodor Elmar Bjarnason)! Go into the box! Go into the box! EMMI!" |
"Ahhh… YES!…(Emmi passes to Arnor Ingvi Traustason)... Y-E-E-E-S! (ball hits back of the net) Yes, Yes, YES, YES, Y-E-E-E-S! | "Ahhh… YES!…(Emmi passes to Arnor Ingvi Traustason)... Y-E-E-E-S! (ball hits back of the net) Yes, Yes, YES, YES, Y-E-E-E-S! |
"We are winning this! We are through to the final 16! We are through to the final 16! We are beating Austria! | "We are winning this! We are through to the final 16! We are through to the final 16! We are beating Austria! |
"The voice has gone! But that doesn´t matter! We have qualified! | "The voice has gone! But that doesn´t matter! We have qualified! |
"Arnor Yngvi Traustason scores! Iceland two, Austria one! What? The final whistle has been blown here, and never, ever have I felt so good!" | "Arnor Yngvi Traustason scores! Iceland two, Austria one! What? The final whistle has been blown here, and never, ever have I felt so good!" |
Iceland's football record | Iceland's football record |
As a nation of 332,529 people (roughly the population of a small UK city), Iceland does not traditionally pack a massive punch on the stage of world football. In fact it has no professional clubs. | As a nation of 332,529 people (roughly the population of a small UK city), Iceland does not traditionally pack a massive punch on the stage of world football. In fact it has no professional clubs. |
But internationally they are on the rise. | But internationally they are on the rise. |
Here is how the 21st Century has stacked up for them so far. | Here is how the 21st Century has stacked up for them so far. |
To qualify for the Euros, they beat Turkey, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Kazakhstan and Latvia. But never have they qualified for an international tournament. | To qualify for the Euros, they beat Turkey, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Kazakhstan and Latvia. But never have they qualified for an international tournament. |
So you can see why Gummi Ben got so excited. | So you can see why Gummi Ben got so excited. |
And his unbridled enthusiasm echoed across social media. | And his unbridled enthusiasm echoed across social media. |
Next up, Iceland face England in Nice on Monday. And Gummi Ben will be waiting. | Next up, Iceland face England in Nice on Monday. And Gummi Ben will be waiting. |
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