Iceland’s 1986 World Championship run spread handball fever

Iceland’s men’s handball team finished sixth at the 1986 World Championship in Switzerland, taking the nation’s relationship with the team to a new level, mbl.is reports.

Icelanders had followed the national team for decades, watching players such as Gunnlaugur Hjálmarsson, Ingólfur Óskarsson, Jón Hjaltalín Magnússon and Geir Hallsteinsson. The country had also developed a habit of building expectations before major tournaments, expectations that could prove difficult to meet.

Forty years ago, however, the team’s popularity reached a new height. For the first time, Icelanders could watch their team’s matches live on television at a major tournament. All of the games were broadcast live with commentary from Bjarni Felixson.

Satellite broadcasts had been used at the 1984 Olympic Games, but Iceland’s state broadcaster was unable to show much live coverage. The time difference with California was also considered unappealing. Iceland finished sixth at those Games as well, raising expectations for the World Championship in Switzerland. Around 200 Icelandic supporters travelled abroad when the tournament began.

Live broadcasts alone were not enough to create a lasting bond between the audience and the national team, even with Bjarni Felixson providing the commentary. The tournament also needed excitement and drama, and Switzerland provided plenty of both.

After the surprise team from South Korea overwhelmed Iceland in the opening match, Iceland defeated Czechoslovakia by one goal in a difficult game. The team then had to beat four-time world champions Romania to reach the main round. Romania were a much stronger side at the time than they are today.

The closing stages offered spectators a finish worthy of a sentimental Hollywood script. Romania led 23-21, but Iceland scored the final four goals to win. With the score tied at 23-23, Atli Hilmarsson stole the ball and scored on a fast break. In Romania’s next attack, during the final minute, the visitors were awarded a penalty. Einar Þorvarðarson made a powerful save, keeping the ball from falling to the floor. Guðmundur Guðmundsson sealed the victory with a goal in the final seconds and ran around the arena in Bern celebrating.

Morgunblaðið’s coverage was handled by journalist Ágúst Ingi Jónsson and photographer Bjarni Eiríksson, who followed the team throughout its time in Switzerland. After the victory over Romania, Ágúst Ingi used the headline “The most magnificent victory by an Icelandic handball team”, with the subheadline “Four-time world champions defeated in a thrilling match”.

The back page also showed pictures of the celebrations, while the front page was devoted to the news that Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme had been shot dead on a street in Stockholm.

“We did very well in Switzerland. The team was good, and Bogdan Kowalczyk, the national coach, was changing handball so much. That had an effect, as we had never trained as much before,” said line player Þorgils Óttar Mathiesen, who became national team captain after the World Championship when Þorbjörn Jensson stopped playing for Iceland.