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Iceland: 2nd Place! Where are they: Left of Sweden and Norway. Keep going. Keeeeep going. How did they Qualify: Second in their group, beating the Netherlands twice and splitting with Turkey and the Czech Republic Odds: Let's just get out of group stage aka 100/1. This ain't yer mom's Iceland. For decades (52 years), Iceland was the team where other countries dreaded visiting because “It's cold and this team sucks”. Then they beat Turkey 3-0 Then they beat the Netherlands 2-0 Just like that, Iceland upgraded to “It's cold and we might lose there”. And now they've torn through a qualifying group that consisted of the free-falling Dutch, Kazakhstan, Latvia, and the other two teams that qualified. They looked legitimately good for most of qualifying, raising their ranking from 101st to 21st in a very short period of time. They exited 2nd in their group, behind the Czechs, with a +11 goal differential. As an American, goal differential is all I care about and it's the only thing you should care about. Since then, Iceland seems to have shown a variation of results: A win with their B-team against Finland was immediately followed up by a loss to the UAE. The A-team lost to both the US and Denmark before notching a good win in Greece. With one game against Norway and a 'game' with Liechtenstein in Reykjavik, Iceland has a chance to regain a little momentum before group stage. “But who are they playing in the group stage?"  They're in a group with Portugal (4 losses in 4 games), Austria (2 ties in 3 games), and Hungary (3 wins in 10 games). While this looks bad, keep in mind that Iceland has only 2 wins against the Netherlands, and those both came last year. Will I like watching Iceland? That depends. Do you enjoy counterattacking football with lots of midfield possession? Do you like teams that play physically? Do you hate teams that have names that are easy to spell? Do you like finding reasons to say a team is the best at something “in relation to population”? If the last one's the case, you should already be a fan of Iceland. The Team The roster has already been determined, so let's go over some of the highlights: Goalkeeper Because even though defense wins championships, it's still optional. Hannes Þór Halldórsson (Bodo Glimt/NEC)  Look at this lovable guy. He's been the main goalkeeper for the team since 2011. He's currently on loan from Dutch team NEC to the Norwegians. Apparently he was the director of Iceland's entry video to the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest, making him the first Icelandic man who wanted to be involved with two things with the prefix “Euro”. Ögmundur Kristinsson (Hammarby)  The backup goalkeeper. He's had good showings against Estonia, Turkey, and Finland, so if M. Night Halldorsson decides to go back into showbiz, Edit: Conceded 3 goals to Norway lol he's like a sieve. Defenders Just good enough to survive the Icelandic cold. Birkir Már Sævarsson (Hammarby)  At 31, he won “newcomer of the year” at his new club Hammarby; coincidentally, Kristinsson's new team as well. He's been versitile for Iceland, mainly playing right back for the team. He also seems to be continuously suffering from intestinal distress Kári Árnason (Malmo FF)  While he looks like he should be in episodes of It's Always Sunny, popping acid with Danny DeVito; Arnason is the oldest and most experienced defender on the team. The Midfield Where the magic happens. Aron Gunnarsson (Cardiff City)  Seattle-area hipster, ex-lumberjack, country singer. Aron Gunnarsson has been none of these. Instead, Gunnarsson has been captain since 2012. This coincided with his rise in form with Cardiff, which he's been with ever since. Has a history of being injured, but seems to be in good health now. Hes a good midfielder and part of a dangerous midfield featuring: Gylfi Þór Sigurðsson (Swansea City)  If anyone under the age 35 is a superstar on this team, this is the guy. Sigurdsson has been fantastic for this team since 2010, and despite a rough early 2015 with Swansea, rebounded in Euro qualifying. Notably, he scored every goal against the Dutch in their two wins in 2014 and 2015. Expect him to take all the free kicks and penalties, and watch as he's actually pretty good at them. Birkir Bjarnason (FC Basel)  Nicknamed “Thor” for obvious reasons, Bjarnason joined Iceland the same year as Gylfi Sigurdsson, and has done well. He played in Italy before he realized he'd rather play with a great Swiss team than bad Italian teams. One of those working-class players that does a lot of work for no real credit or glory. He'll be a guy that the anchors mention when they talk about players running long distances like they do every game. Has the best hair on the team. Strikers A geriatric and a goal-scorer walk into a bar . . . Kolbeinn Sigthorsson (Nantes)  Sigthorsson scores goals. They aren't pretty, but he can finish. In 37 appearances with the team, he's scored 19 goals; enough to rank a lofty 2nd in Iceland. Watch as he scores from passes from Bjarnason and Gunnarsson, and then prays that the defense or Gylfi do enough to win. Eiður Smári Guðjohnsen  The man. The myth. The ancient. After 'retiring' from international football in 2014, Gudjohnsen came back to score against Kazakhstan, proving that age doesn't matter when everyone around you sucks. Mainly just there as an emotional leader, Gudjohnsen has shown flashes of the Chelsea and Barcelona player we saw in the mid-2000s. If you're an Iceland fan, you're hoping that he shows his decade-old form again. And that he doesn't bet the team bus at a Monaco casino. Managers That's right, there are two managers for Iceland! Many of you are familiar with Swede sensation Lars Lagerback, who has now been manager of Iceland since 2011. He also has his assistant/co-manager Heimir Hallgrimsson, who will take over operations for the team after this year, when Lagerback officially retires/evades Nigerians who want to bribe him again. Team Kit  Iceland is a feel-good story that will probably end at the hands of Austrians or Germans. Until that time comes, enjoy some team play that relies on everyone actually doing part of their job correctly! FartingBedpost fucked around with this message at 19:15 on Jun 22, 2016 |
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May 28, 2016 23:31
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Those are some good-looking shirts. (Also, something interesting: since Icelandic people have patronymics instead of last names, their fans are petitioning UEFA to let them put the players' first names on the back of their shirts.)
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May 29, 2016 01:01
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I think Iceland will back themselves to get out of their group tbh.
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May 31, 2016 04:40
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Those shirts look like they could be 90s USMNT ones
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May 31, 2016 07:01
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Troy Queef posted:Those are some good-looking shirts. It always annoys me when Swansea fans call Gylfi 'Siggy'.
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May 31, 2016 09:07
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Ewar Woowar posted:I think Iceland will back themselves to get out of their group tbh. The group is deceptively difficult, but they'll be there with Portugal and Austria.
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May 31, 2016 19:03
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I just realized that in addition to Norway (bad but at least we're fellow Nords so not that weird + the Portuguese said okay to play us too) Iceland are playing Liechtenstein as the only countries to prepare for the Euros. What's the deal with this? You'd be hard pressed to find a worse pair of countries to match up against unless you tried and picked San Marino or something, surely they could find a Good Country to actually get a proper test against.
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Jun 1, 2016 18:50
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Insurrectionist posted:I just realized that in addition to Norway (bad but at least we're fellow Nords so not that weird + the Portuguese said okay to play us too) Iceland are playing Liechtenstein as the only countries to prepare for the Euros. What's the deal with this? You'd be hard pressed to find a worse pair of countries to match up against unless you tried and picked San Marino or something, surely they could find a Good Country to actually get a proper test against. As it turns out, Norway are enough of a test for Iceland, since Iceland are actually real bad.
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Jun 1, 2016 19:15
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They're just getting all their conceded goals over with before the tournament, I have faith in my island friends. It's really that they only had one more game and they got Liechtenstein that weirds me out. Surely they could get, like, Japan or South Korea or a pretend nation like the US to play them.
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Jun 1, 2016 19:32
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Grimble posted:As it turns out, Norway are enough of a test for Iceland, since Iceland are actually real bad. Losing to Norway just makes the inevitable quarter-final run even sweeter. Edit: editing Ogmundur Kristinsson's blurb to "conceded three goals to Norway" FartingBedpost fucked around with this message at 20:21 on Jun 1, 2016 |
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Jun 1, 2016 20:16
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Lol down 3-1 to Norway. Thats very very bad Iceland.
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Jun 1, 2016 20:16
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its a friendly
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Jun 1, 2016 20:18
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Vegard Forren 
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Jun 1, 2016 20:25
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Comeback on
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Jun 1, 2016 20:26
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All hail the ssons of Island
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Jun 14, 2016 22:53
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Just saw a stat that eight percent of the Icelandic population has bought a ticket to the tournament (27,000). Not sure if it counts people who have bought several tickets as several people but good lord.
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Jun 15, 2016 11:18
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Antti posted:Just saw a stat that eight percent of the Icelandic population has bought a ticket to the tournament (27,000). each stadium has about 40 to 50k capacity, you could possibly put all of Iceland's population on the french Euro stadiums.
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Jun 15, 2016 11:45
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Hello OP this is your elf believer correspondent chiming in to say that while the OP is pretty cool and good it doesn't mention all the players and doesn't showcase the fully sick beautiful dream. An anecdote to show how invested everyone is in this team: Almost everyone knows someone either on the squad or is a friend of a friend of the players. Personally I trained from age 6-10 with Aron Gunnarsson in Þór. I know Alfreð "Goalmachine" Finnbogason and Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson are friends of my friends and Rúrik Gíslason grew up with some of my friends. And i stopped playing football at 10. Before you get bored here's Birkir Már Sævarsson's first national team goal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yjn01pHMJZ8 Now for some more players: Ari Freyr Skúlason  After switching from midfield to left-back this guy has been essential to the squad throughout the qualifying rounds. He's small, almost fast, and hard as a rock. Ragnar Sigurðsson Not to be confused with the math professor  or the fabled Ragnar "Loðbrók" Sigurðsson:  This is the guy who ties it all together in the defense:  He's the center back. A key player in the squad, he commands the backline and some newspaper somewhere did an article saying that he's one of the key reasons we are in the EURO2016 but i can't find it. Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYafhj_BjmU Known for his spectacular goals and "flashes of brilliance". This guy grew up in my local club Breiðablik. He spent a few years in the Chelsea and Fulham youth programs but then returned to Breiðablik Sometime after joining the fully-grown-men's squad he scored [very many] goals in [more matches than goals but not that much more] and following in the footsteps of every pro player who didnt go to norway/sweden he transferred to AZ alkmaar and now plays for Charlton. His hat trick against Switzerland is one of the reasons why we all believe we can make it against the big teams. Alfreð "Goalmachine" Finnbogason https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oivG2sZh4R8 Another Breiðablik player. While he usually starts on the bench for the national team now, because of Jón Daði Böðvarsson superior aerial dominance, this guy is a striker at heart. He just makes goals. He played for Dutch team Heerenveeeen and scored [a fully sick amount of goals] consistently every season. Went to Real Sociedad but now he's on loan in Augsburg. Honorable mention: Rúrik Gíslason  Not on the squad because of an injury so now he is enjoying the beautiful dream back home and being on TV. Many say he's better at that than doing football. Known for being pretty good at football and being a model. He and captain Aron usually share a room when competing:  Got made fun of in elementary school for having a "too perfect face". He has his own fanpage : http://www.rurikgislasonfans.net/ THE BEAUTIFUL DREAM This is the hype, the glory, what the beautiful game is all about. Everyone and everything in the country is hype about the foot ball. It's a rule. Everyone. The only person not hype about the football is the guy who guards the lighthouse in hrísey : http://bit.ly/28OxGEg and he's the exception that proves the rule. The national team song: Ferðalok https://twitter.com/BOATSnJOES/status/744195612413853698 It means "I'm home" because now as everyone knows the cool and good team from Iceland is making it's big tournament debut and we belong there so now we are home. More good stuff: "Terrifying" chant https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZbMV6JvL6E https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZIoK8_kmHo Pics of Sigthorsson dominating in headers: http://fotbolti.net/news/18-06-2016/myndir-kolbeinn-er-konungur-haloftanna Böðvarsson's failed spit https://twitter.com/SoccerBible/status/744215187176177665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw Why Ronaldo's been poo poo https://twitter.com/BBCMOTD/status/742825104434860032 Another pic of Ronaldo https://twitter.com/GummiBen/status/742835324058009600 First lady Dorrit preparing Ari Freyr for the next match https://www.facebook.com/Skulason11/photos/a.549626338386322.146068.502008973148059/1350864968262451/?type=3&theater Colin Murray show does a bit about iceland: https://soundcloud.com/talksport/colin-murray-show-iceland Favourite commentator losing his poo poo when Birkir scores v Portugal https://twitter.com/siminn/status/743152449293271040/video/1
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Jun 19, 2016 15:06
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Good late op op Iceland is cool and good
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Jun 19, 2016 15:12
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I enjoyed that post, especially the bit about how cool and good Iceland are/is.
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Jun 19, 2016 15:30
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That post is a good post
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Jun 19, 2016 15:45
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Fresh news: geologists say that hekla is ready to erupt. Havent found an english article but HOLD ONTO YOUR loving COCKS EVERYONE AND JOGI LÖW CAUSE ICELAND IS GONNA MAKE SOME loving HEADLINES THIS EURO2016 http://www.visir.is/nyjar-maelingar-syna-ad-hekla-er-tilbuin-ad-gjosa/article/2016160618847
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Jun 19, 2016 23:28
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Thanks for the beautiful follow-up, just like Aron Gunnarsson doing enough to get that penalty.
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Jun 19, 2016 23:36
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I like Kari Arnason, he was good as a Don and he's cool now telling Ronaldo to gently caress off.
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Jun 20, 2016 02:48
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The atmosphere is growing thicker and heavier by the hour. With tonight's results A Point In Paris will suffice for the tiny nation of Iceland to qualify for EURO2016 knockout stages. With captain Aron Einar Gunarsson reporting that he is well and good and prepared to play tomorrow along with swedish magician Lars Lagerbäck commenting on our cool and good boy's "impressive mental fortitude" the impressively good looking team looks set to secure a spot in the final 16 of the euros. Tonight's results in other groups has ensured that a draw in tomorrow's match against Austria will secure them a 3 point, 0 GD spot, enough to qualify. To the whole world except Austria, these news are met with excitement as fans from around the globe are looking forward to the unique and impressive Icelandic team 'volcanic' tactic where they 'lay dormant' in the defense until the 'eruption' where they spring forth with riveting pace and dominating physical presence to give the rest of Europe a knock and disrupt air traffic. For everyone who isn't Ronaldo, the beautiful dream is very well alive. Also, the reporters from VICE have taken a break from their usual cum drinking, butt loving and drug injecting to do a story on the real big boys of Europe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1M5_WBOCKXs
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Jun 21, 2016 22:32
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Mods, please change the OP title to "Iceland: Cool and Good", please. Edit: lol FartingBedpost fucked around with this message at 19:18 on Jun 22, 2016 |
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Jun 22, 2016 19:14
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Teams exposed as frauds: Portugal, Austria Excellent match by our lads in blue. Have some good scenes: https://twitter.com/Jack_MKD/status/745678343916359680/video/1 Iceland's best commentator losing his poo poo https://twitter.com/ScoresVideo/status/745702998882525184 Big boys of europe putting the fright into England after winning https://www.facebook.com/copa90/videos/1041532639265210/ The blue wall https://twitter.com/hashtag/ISL?src=hash Here's captain Aron Einar Gunarsson giving his big brother Arnór Þór Gunnarsson, a player on the national Handball team who recently qualified against Portugal no less, a big kiss  More pictures of the beautiful dream http://www.fotbolti.net/news/22-06-2016/myndaveisla-island-fagnar-markinu-og-sigrinum Haircut of the tournament:  The first goal: https://twitter.com/siminn/status/745653605261185024 The missed penalty https://twitter.com/siminn/status/745658526685552640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw Reminder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6XAETjdjQU Basscop fucked around with this message at 21:10 on Jun 22, 2016 |
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Jun 22, 2016 20:34
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Iceland will gently caress the pussy brits up just like they did in numerous viking invasions where they returned home empty handed cause british women are ugly
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Jun 22, 2016 20:39
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https://twitter.com/Manipeturs/status/745691034600996864 Sign language news just in https://twitter.com/siminn/status/745707750278062080 Here's that commentator that's making the rounds as the goal is scored Basscop fucked around with this message at 22:02 on Jun 22, 2016 |
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Jun 22, 2016 22:00
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The choo-choo train celebration owns. Iceland owns.
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Jun 22, 2016 22:31
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"Pipping known Iceland hater Cristiano Ronaldo"
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Jun 22, 2016 22:49
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Iceland fwiggin own. Can't wait for the manly viking icelanders to smash the effeminate britons.
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Jun 22, 2016 23:17
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Basscop posted:https://twitter.com/siminn/status/745707750278062080 would love to see the commentator vid but it's not available in my country 
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Jun 23, 2016 00:00
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dex_sda posted:would love to see the commentator vid but it's not available in my country This one should work: https://twitter.com/danmari83/status/745694539738943488/video/1
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Jun 23, 2016 08:00
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Would you rather exit the tournament now while everyone still likes you, or win all the games through luck and life-killing defense and become the 2016 Greece, forever hated?
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Jun 23, 2016 23:01
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Doctor Malaver posted:Would you rather exit the tournament now while everyone still likes you, or win all the games through luck and life-killing defense and become the 2016 Greece, forever hated? 
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Jun 23, 2016 23:04
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Doctor Malaver posted:Would you rather exit the tournament now while everyone still likes you, or win all the games through luck and life-killing defense and become the 2016 Greece, forever hated? gently caress off.
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Jun 23, 2016 23:31
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Are you guys Greeks or what's your loving problem?
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Jun 24, 2016 00:09
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Doctor Malaver posted:Are you guys Greeks or what's your loving problem? Iceland rules.
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Jun 24, 2016 00:46
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Greece is fail and bad while Iceland is not
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Jun 24, 2016 00:48
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