Iceland's soccer team returns home to a rather warm welcome, performs awesome 'viking clap' in Reykjavik Iceland

The Iceland team performing the "Viking Clap" after their England win.
PhotoCred: PA

Iceland may have been knocked out  on Sunday after a heroic effort at the 2016 Euro soccer competition, but it's the team's viking clap that will live on in our memories.

 The viking clap and chant is a hypnotic, thunderous crescendo of claps performed by the team along with thousands of spectators, all shouting "ho-oh."  It's a post-match celebration Iceland's players have performed ritually with their fans at the Euros and one that has stunned people the world over.

 Scottish team Motherwell is said to have been the origin of the viking clap, but there is no doubt Iceland's fans made it famous. Iceland, a 34th FIFA ranked team, pulled off impressive performances against Portugal, Hungary and Austria that led it to the next stage of competition. 

The team then followed with a stunning victory against England, before succumbing to the might of France in the quarter-finals. While the soccer team's performance this summer may not be seen again, you can bet the viking clap will. It's a legacy of Iceland's giant-killing summer, something which almost all soccer fans could get on board with. Here are some of the most epic viking claps so far. 

 After Iceland's surprise win over England

The players looked  quite disappointed and let down but time around, the traditional cheer was begun by their fans, rather than orchestrated by the players. The boys eventually joined in. And together, they might have begun to garner some small understanding for the magnitude of all they had achieved within a month in Euro2016.

Final Clap at Euro2016 for Iceland after France defeat  

Even the french weren't left out.  

Over 10,000 Icelandic join in at home

But this is how it's meant to be done. As thousands of Iceland fans in the capital of Reykjavik welcome home their team.

 

Source: Mashable.com