Reykjavík Grapevine - 20.06.2014, Síða 28

28 The Reykjavík GrapevineIssue 08 — 2014SPORT
For some, it is a religious experience.
For others, it’s simply an excuse to
go out to bars and share in at least
90 minutes of crazed fanaticism
concluding in either jubilant highs
or soul-crushing lows. There are
no games ending in a draw past the
group stage, there are no wins based
on an aggregate score and there are
no participants who haven’t dreamed
of hoisting that trophy as the hero of
his country.
This is the World Cup.
Unfortunately, Iceland does not
have a team representing us this time
around (they were thisclose to quali-
fying). However, that does not mean
that Icelanders can’t or won’t join in
on the festivities. For locals or for
tourists, for those who rabidly comb
the Internet for transfer rumours, or
for those who don’t know the differ-
ence between Lionel Messi and Lio-
nel Ritchie, this is our guide to where
to watch the games and, if your al-
legiances aren’t already tied, who to
support.
Where To Watch
Bíó Paradís
The independent cinema will be
showing all games and boasts a huge
screen and 205 seats. Every day be-
tween 17:00 and 19:30 they will be of-
fering a two for one deal on all beer
and wine. Admission is free.
Bjarni Fel
Bjarni Fel is rolling out an extensive
World Cup menu and will be showing
the games on 20 HDTVs and five HD
projectors, including a massive pro-
jector screen in the Hresso garden.
Boston
Boston will be cheering hard for
Mexico, offering up free tequila shots
when they score. In a heart-warming
gesture of international fairness, Bos-
ton will also be offering 50% off shots
when any other team scores.
The Dubliner
Perhaps worthy of winning the award
for most creative World Cup drinking
set-up, The Dubliner will give pa-
trons the chance to participate in a
“Shot World Cup.” Each country has
a representative shot (for example,
vodka shots for Russia or a Bailey’s/
grenadine mixture resembling the
English flag) , and while a game is
being played, shots from that match-
up will be half-price. At the end of
the tournament, The Dubliner will
buy a national team jersey from the
country with the most popular shot
and auction the shirt off for charity.
Blimey!
The English Pub
The pub promises a festive atmo-
sphere and will be showing the games
on their five impressive HDTVs.
Glaumbar
Glaumbar is sporting eight brand new
HDTVs, as well as 5 HD projectors.
They’ll be offering 1.5 L pitchers for 2,000
ISK, and during happy-hour (starting at
22:00), draught beer is half-priced.
Lebowski Bar
They will be showing every game on a va-
riety of big-screen TVs, and will be offer-
ing their usual happy-hour deal: two for
one on wines and draught beer between
16:00 and 19:00.
Karaoke Sports Bar
Karaoke Sports Bar will be showing every
game on their array of TVs and offering
up 700 ISK beers while all games are be-
ing played.
Stúdentakjallarinn
Stúdentakjallarinn will be showing
games on their massive screen (11 m2),
with space for nearly 400 fans. In addi-
tion to a variety of food specials, wine is
priced at 690 ISK and beer is 790 ISK (490
for University of Iceland students).
Who To Support
If you want to support an Icelander...
...root for the United States. That’s
right, the “Yanks.” While there was initially
some contempt (Football Association of
Iceland: “[He] has no link to soccer in the
USA at all”) when Alabama-born, Reykja-
vík-raised Aron Jóhannsson chose to play
for the U.S. team in-
stead of for Iceland,
many Icelanders are
excited to watch him
play on the world’s
biggest stage. The
sprightly 23-year-old
Kevin Bacon doppel-
gänger has already
seen playing time as
a forward for the U.S. and a goal would
certainly thrust him into worldwide con-
versation as an up-and-coming football
star—a rare opportunity for an Icelander or
for an American.
If you want to support the favourites…
…root for Brazil. If you are putting
money on the line, or simply want the best
chance to brag to your friends about how
right you were, Brazil is the team to pick.
The home-field advantage, in addition to
young star Neymar’s speed and creativity
and a star-studded defence, is enough to
convince well-known statistics guru Nate
Silver to award them a 45% chance of win-
ning the trophy.
If you want to support the ultimate un-
derdog…
…root for Australia. Though they are
the best team in their continent (djók!) the
“Socceroos” are the lowest-ranked team
to qualify for the tournament, according to
FIFA rankings. At 62nd in the world, they
are ranked lower than Iceland (52nd).
Some people naturally gravitate towards
rooting for underdogs, and as the worst
team overall in the tournament’s toughest
group (matched with Spain, Netherlands,
and Chile), Australia—the longest of long
shots—certainly could use your support.
If you want to support a beard almost
worthy of belonging to an Icelander…
…root for Andrea Pirlo and the Ital-
ian Team. In the past we’ve covered the
Icelandic penchant and skill for growing
beards, and Italian midfielder Andrea
Pirlo’s facial fur is nearly up to the high
standard set by Icelanders. The fashion-
ably-whiskered 35
year-old known as
the “puppet master”
virtuosically leads
the “Azzuri” at-
tack, often weaving
through passes that
will make you double
or triple-take.
If you want to support Iceland’s post-
colonial brethren…
…root for Ghana. During this World
Cup, you might have an empathetic soft
spot for the “Black Stars.” Like Iceland,
Ghana once suffered under the Danish
colonial yoke, as part of the Danish Gold
Coast until 1850. Star forward Asamoah
Gyan will try to power Ghana to at least
the semi-finals—they would be the first
African team to do so.
If you want to support the trendy dark
horse…
…root for Belgium. This is also the part
of the guide that could be called “How
to Trick Your Friends Into Thinking You
Know More About Football Than You
Actually Do.” Led by midfielder Eden
Hazard and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois,
the Belgian squad is one of the most tal-
ented in the world, though the country is
not traditionally thought of as a football
power. However, thanks to repeatedly
being declared the “dark horse” of the
World Cup, it would hardly be a sur-
prise to see them make a deep run.
Chile would also qualify as a trendy
upset pick, led by Arturo Vidal and
Alexis Sanchez.
World Cup season is finally upon us. Every four years, football fanaticism surges during a
month-long period before reaching its apex in the tournament final, this year scheduled for
July 13. The World Cup is the world’s most widely viewed sporting event, bringing together
die-hard and casual fans alike.
Words
Tyler Clevenger
Photos
Hörður Sveinsson
A Guide To Watching
The World Cup In Reykjavík
Where To Watch And Who To Support
“...for those who don’t
know the difference be-
tween Lionel Messi and
Lionel Ritchie, this is our
guide to where to watch
the games...”