The Iceland national squad came home to a huge reception, after an impressive achievement in reaching the quarter-finals of Euro 2016.
Their flight landed at the Keflavik airport, before local fire fighters sprayed water into the air to form rainbows as a gesture of respect to the Vikings.
Striker Kolbeinn Sigthorsson, who managed to score a consolation goal in the 5-2 defeat against host nation France in Stade de France, said he is happy to be back.
“It is a dream came true to receive such huge support,” he said, as the estimated number of supporters who attended their games in France is believed to be 30,000, roughly 10% of their total population.
“We experienced something wonderful, it is a dream came true and we are very proud for bringing such joy and happiness to the nation,” added Sigthorsson.
The players were then paraded along the streets in the capital on top of a double-decker bus to celebrate with their fans.
“Fairy tales still exist! It rarely happens – if it did happened before – to unite us, Iceland like how you did on the football field,” said Prime Minister Sigurdur Ingi Johannsson to the squad while receiving huge cheers from the crowd.
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