Martin Hermannsson celebrates with a “small big sports nation”

In qualification, the Icelanders stood with their backs to the wall after a defeat against Hungary. The team would have brought only one victory against Turkey to the European Championship – and Iceland won 83:71 in front of 2300 viewers in Reykjavík. Hermannsson was top scorer with 23 points.

“I have never received so many calls after a game,” says the 30 -year -old Point Guard. On the way back to Berlin, people had repeatedly stopped at the airport, congratulated him. “The whole country watched and the relief was huge,” says Hermannsson and lets up a small tip towards his Alba teammate Matteo Spagnolo and Gabriele Procida.

Italy could have done Iceland with a win against Hungary’s help in the same time, then a defeat against Turkey would have been enough. “I wrote to you that I invite you to Grill Royal, if you win and you can choose what you want. But they messed it up, ”says Hermannsson and laughs.

Iceland did not play a role in basketball for a long time and only competed against other outsiders in tournaments. But that has changed in the meantime. In 2015, the country qualified for the European Championship for the first time, and Iceland took part again in 2017. Always there: Martin Hermannsson. “Before 2015 we were never at a big tournament, now it is the third time for me – crazy!” He says.

How Iceland always manages to play with such a small population in football, handball or now also in basketball with the big ones? “This question is often asked,” says Hermannsson and looks thoughtful. On the one hand there is the infrastructure. Even in the smallest village there would be a basketball basket, a soccer field or a hall. Sport is very important in school, but also in society. “We are a little big sports nation.”

It is much more, according to Hermannsson, but a question of character. “Life in Iceland is different. We are isolated and in some parts of the country you don’t see the sun for two months. We may not have the greatest talent, but we are incredibly tough and good in survival, ”says Hermannsson.

There is also a great cohesion, which is also evident in the national basketball team. The core of the team has been playing together for years, everyone knows about their role. But even on Iceland, where, as Hermannsson jokingly says, everyone knows anyway, the connection between Alba’s captain and his national team colleague Elvar Fridriksson is something special.

“It makes it even more beautiful that we did it together. Our story is crazy, ”says Hermannsson. Even the fathers of the two played together in the national basketball team, in 1994 they were born at a distance of only two months and since childhood they have been best friends. In 2014 they even went to College together to Long Island. With the national team, they take part in an EM for the third time in summer.

In 2015 and 2017 Iceland was partly close, but lost all games. It was still a great experience for the then young Hermannsson: “In 2015 we played here in the group here in Berlin and I still remember how I came to the arena for the first time. Wow!” This time the first win is definitely supposed to be. “Then we are the most successful Icelandic national team ever,” says Hermannsson.