shannon2007

UEFA U-19 Championships 2012 1st Round Qualifying
Faroe Islands, Switzerland, Hungary, Bosnia
12th, 14th & 16th October 2011

It was virtually a brand new squad for the under 19's, most of the older squad now on the verge of being too old and it was time to rebuild again. Whether any of these players would be an Anders Berg or an Aki Joensen, only time would tell but it was highly unlikely. The mini tournament was held in Sarajevo for this group, and the Faroes would start against Switzerland. The Swiss had reached the Semi Finals of the last two U-19 Championships before losing out to Portugal on both occassions. The pair had met once before, in 2008, a match which the Faroes had won 1-0.

This would be a stern test for the new squad, and would possibly show whether there was any real potential within this group of 26 teenagers. Twenty four minutes into the match it was shown there just might be, as 17 year old Birgir Andreassen of Selfoss sent the Faroes into the lead. Mind you, Andreasson has picked up one U-21 cap and so is not a total unknown quantity. The forward showed that he might well have an eye for goal with a second on 37 minutes and although Switzerland did finally score fifteen minutes from time, in the end the Faroes pulled off a great win. Outstanding performances from man of the match Magni Rasmussen (17), a central defender who plays for Huginn and 18 year old midfielder Bardour Poulsen of Vikingur, brings them into the spotlight and it remains to be seen if they can stay there.

The second match was against Hungary, who had never played this Faroes at this level before. An opening game 3-1 hammering from hosts Bosnia had left the Hungarians shellshocked, but thoughts of an easy win for the Faroes here were soon blown out of the water. Peter Nemeth sent the fired up Hungarians into the lead on the 37th minute and when Frodi Poulsen missed a penalty five minutes later, you could tell this wasn't going to be the Faroes night. With Switzerland beating Bosnia, all three teams were level on the three points each.

Hosts Bosnia would expect to be favourites to go through now, but after 25 minutes they found themselves trailing to a Bogi Henze goal. Five minutes later though, disaster struck for the Faroes as they went down to 10 men after Magni Rasmussen was red carded. The sending off seemed to cause the Faroese kids to lose their way, as five minutes from half time Bosnia equalized. In injury time though, midfielder Bjarni Joensen restored the lead and kept alive qualification hopes and thirteen minutes into the second half, Mortan Danielsen bagged the goal which wrapped up a fine win for the 10 men Faroes, and sent hosts Bosnia out of the competition. Both Switzerland and Hungary qualified, the later as the best 3rd placed side and poor Bosnia felt left out.

The draw for the second round is, as you would expect, a whole lot tougher with an away match against Slovakia and then him games with Germany and England, which will really test how good this new breed of youngsters are.

shannon2007

Faroe Islands v Chad & Bhutan
International Friendlies Saturday 12th & Wednesday 16th November 2011

Whilst the U-21 side prepared to take on Ireland in their play-off match, Ingi decided to take the opportunity to pit the full squad and the U-19's against opposition from Africa and Asia, sides they would rarely have the opportunity to play. Chad & Bhutan may not be the greatest footballing sides on their continents, but they would provide a different kind of challenge and a unique opportunity for the Faroese support.

With Anders Berg, Aki Joensen, Peter Damgaard, Morten Clausen & Morten Larsen drafted back to the U-21 squad for the Ireland ties, so Ingi decided to use these games to experiment and full international debuts were six players. The line up for the first match with Chad - against whose U-19 side the Faroes U-19's had comfortably won 3-0 - was certainly unfamiliar to the regular Faroese supporter.

Heini Kristian retained his place his goal, as Gunnar Neilsen sat on the bench. Todur Mortensen got the chance of a rare cap at right back, indeed the Chad game would be only his 4th full cap. Kristian Hojgaard started at left back, whilst in the middle of the defence Johan Davidsen and John Hansen would pair up. Johan V Gunnarson rarely got a run out for the first eleven these days, but his start against Chad would in fact be his 30th cap. Rogvi Joensen and Rogvi Hojgaard would join him in the midfield, both players making their full international debuts. Bardur Jensen would pick up only his 12th full cap on the right wing, whilst U-21 back up striker Allan Holm would play the central striking role, with Allan Gunnarson on the left side.

with such an experimental line up, it was impossible to know how the game would go against totally unknown opposition. If there was any apprehension in the crowd though, it was dissipated almost immediately as Allan Holm sent the Faroes ahead after just four minutes. Johan V Gunnarson made it 2-0 after 19 minutes as the Faroes besieged the Chad goal, and on the half hour Bardur Jensen made it three. The second half was less exciting as the African nation tried to keep the scoreline respectable and in the end a decent enough work out and some good performances from the fringe and newcomer players.

Against Bhutan, Runi Olsen was handed his full international debut at right back, Mortan I Horg came back in at left back and Arnold Poulsen on the right wing was the only other change in the starting line up from the Chad game. The Bhutan U-19's had held the Faroese U-19's to a 0-0 draw, and so it was expected that perhaps this might be a slightly harder match. In truth though, it wasn't. Allan Holm staked his claim for future international honours with a first half hattrick and substitute Einar Petersen added a late brace as the Faroes romped to an all too easy 5-0 win.

With those two matches out of the way, the first team have no more games until the next World Cup Qualifying games begin and the spotlight now falls on the U-21 and U-19 sides attempts to win their respective European Championships......

shannon2007

Faroe Islands U-21 v Ireland U-21
2012 EUFA U-21 Championships Last Sixteen, 1st leg. Skala, Faroes

One of the biggest problems Ingi and his side faced for this match with Ireland was something that only a few years ago would have seemed ludicrous in the extreme - overconfidence. Having disposed of France, albeit that it could be argued the French were taking it easy as the match was relatively meaningless, there was simply no reason why the Faroes could not now dispose of Ireland and reach the Finals of the U-21 Championships. And the inclusions of Anders Berg, Peter Damgaard - both of whom by the way would be gaining their first ever U-21 caps - Aki Joensen, Thomas Overgaard, Morten Larsen & Morten Clausen simply made that optimism much more tangible.

The Irish, who had reached this stage of the last U-21 Championship before losing out to Russia, had come through a group including Georgia, Belgium, Norway, Czech Republic and Kazakstan. After narrowly winning their opening four games - all by a single goal - against Georgia, Belgium, Kazakhstan & Norway, the Irish then lost out twice to the Czech Republic, and once to Norway with further wins over Kazakhstan and Georgia along with a draw against Belgium seeing them reach this stage again.

In terms of footballing experience, it would be fair to say Ireland have a slightly better pedigree than the Faroes, but in terms of the experience of the comparative squads it was the Faroes who won that battle convincingly. Yet these players, although top class in Faroese terms, were a long way away from the Zidanes, Figo's and Ronaldo's of the world and complacency was something that simply had no right to possess against anyone. Nevertheless, there was everyright to feel confident, especially if the more experienced players in the squad performed to their ability and then we might jus see the U-21 squad emulate the U-19's - something that even a year ago seemed unthinkable.

The line up for the U-21's was quite strong, and wouldn't bring many batted eyelids had it been announced as the full side:

GK: Bergur Holst (20) Fylkir 2 U-21 Caps
RB: Ronnie Danielsen (19) Brondby 2 caps,
LB: Birgir Joensen (19) IBV 7 U-21 caps
CD: Janne Peltonen (21) Kobenhavn 1 Cap
CD: Morten Larsen (20) Brondby 17 Caps
RCM: Thomas Overgaard (21) Brondby 19 caps
CM: Morten Clausen (21) Brondby 16 caps
LCM: Mortan Andreasen (20) Brondby 7 U-21 caps
RW: Peter Damgaard (21) Bochum 19 caps
SC: Anders Berg (21) Brondby 22 caps
LW: Aki Joensen (21) Brondby 21 caps



The first leg was held in Skala, and for the Faroes at least that seemed like a decent choice, a pitch and weather conditions that would make the game very tough for the Irish. The pitch was covered in snow, it was freezing cold and it was snowing. Not ideal conditions, and coupled with biting northerly wind, the Irish players soon found themselves wondering if they should just turn round and head back to the safety, comfort and warmth of their cozy hotel rooms.

Five minutes into the match, as the Irish were still trying to thaw out in the freezing blizzard, Anders Berg sent the Faroes ahead, in the process bagging his first ever goal at U-21 level. Three minutes later Thomas Overgard sent a blistering 25 yard shot spinning over the slippery surface giving Irish keeper Stephen Sheriden no hope at all, and the match was almost as good as over before it had even begun. Just over a minute later it was over, as Anders Berg made it three and the Irish were in danger of a real hiding as their inexperienced side struggled to cope both with the weather conditions, and the skills of Berg in particular.

As much as the Faroes were enjoying this now in the snow, the Irish started to dig in and the Faroese took the foot off the pedal a bit, as you would expect after such an emphatic start. It was though all one way traffic and seemed that the Faroese players would have to contrive to miss if they were to fail to add to their tally. In first half injury time, first Aki Joensen latched onto a laughable punch out by the Faroese keeper to sent the ball into the net from the corner of the eighteen yard box, and then seconds later Irish defender Stephen Reilly tried a ridiculous pass back with Anders Berg on his heels and the young Faroese striker was only to happy to accept the gift as he completed a first half hattrick.

The match, indeed the whole tie, was to all intents and purposes over. It would take a monumental effort from the Irish side to claw this back, and the evidence of the first 45 minutes would suggest they neither had the stomach or indeed the skill to do so. Three minutes into the second half they were in trouble again as McCaul tripped Aki Joensen in the box and the referee awarded the Faroes a penalty. Anders Berg stepped up and blasted the ball home and it was an incredible 6-0.

Six minutes later the Faroes had another penalty, this time Morten Clausen the player fouled and this time it was Thomas Overgaard who took the spot kick. At six nil up, Overgaard could just have blasted the ball anywhere really, but he only had one thing on his mind as he cooly slotred the ball home for his second and the Faroes seventh. And there was still over half an hour to go for the beleaguered Irish players.

Of course the home crowd were loving this. Rarely, if indeed ever, had a Faroese side so completely humiliated their opponents - and understandably the crowd bayed for more blood. The cried out 'give us TEN!', and in turn their heroes tried to oblige. On the 74th minute Thomas Overgaard ripped the Irish defence apart for the umpteenth time of the evening and blasted home a quite superb strike to make it eight nil and right on full time Kristian Poulsen - who had come on for Berg - blasted home to join in the party. Time though ran out, which was just as well for the thoroughly thrashed and humiliated Irish and the ten was not achieved. Even so, a night which delivered one of the greatest sporting achievements in Faroese history that would be remembered for decades to come.

BarryLFC

9-0 :eek:

shannon2007

Eight of the Irish players got 1's, their keeper somehow got a five but then we did have 18 shots on target so I guessed he saved half of them. 22 shots off target, the Irish didn't have a single shot on goal at all. I guess they just really, really suck!

shannon2007

Ireland U-21 v Faroe Islands U-21
2012 EUFA U-21 Championships Last Sixteen, 2nd Leg, Cork, Ireland (agg:0-9)

The second leg was of course a formality. There was simply no way this Irish side were going to win by ten clear goals and the Faroes could afford to relax knowing that even if they lost 8-0 or even 10-1, they would still go through. With all the 'first teamers' rested, it was more like the normal U-21 side that was sent out to hold the lead, although Frank Pedersen was given a start in goal ahead of Bergur Holst. That may well have been viewed as pure arrogance, but then when you're 9-0 up you can afford it.

For the Irish this was a case of saving some face and clawing back some portion of respectibility. Five minutes into the match, they were down one nil to a Kristian Poulsen strike and you could almost feel the trepidation of another humiliation. To their credit though, the Irish battled back well and managed to contain their opponents for most of the rest of the match, but failed to make any real chances of their own and Pedersen didn't have a save to make. The Faroes could have played both legs without a keeper and it wouldn't even have been noticed.

Six minutes from time, a second Faroese goal finally arrived curteousy of Hallur Joensen and four minutes later Rasmus Nissen bagged a third against an Irish side who had simply given up caring and given in to fate. In the end an incredible twelve nil aggregate scoreline, and the Faroes joined Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Hungary, Italy, Portugal and Spain in the Finals of the U-21 event which would be held in Italy. The draw eventually took place, and the Faroes were placed in a group with the hosts, Italy, Denmark, and Bulgaria. A tough enough group, but with two teams qualifying there had to be a slight chance that this side could reach the last four. Which would be quite something.

The draw for the 2014 World Cup Qualifying also took place and on the face of it the Faroes were given a really good chance to at least make a play off spot. Drawn again with France - who should win the group - Slovenia and Albania, Belgium who were faced in the last World Cup campaign, and Scotland. Of course it won't be easy, but the reality is that any of the teams outside France are surely beatable and 2nd spot would not be beyond the bounds of possibility.

shannon2007

UEFA 2012 U-19 Championships, 2nd Qualifying Phase
Faroe Islands, Germany, England & Slovakia
May 20012

The toughest of challenges for the U-19 side began with an away match in Slovakia. There was not really that much of an expectation from this side, the fact they had progressed to the second phase was in itself an achievement. And when Slovakia raced to a 2-0 lead three minutes into the second half of the opening tie, it seemed that this might indeed be a bridge too far for this squad for this year. Slowly though the young Faroese started to get to grips with the match and on 64 minutes midfielder Bjarni Joensen pulled a goal back and the Faroes were back in the running. The Slovakians, who must have thought the points were secure, suddenly seemed rattled and six minutes from time Bogi Hentze finally got the goal that had been coming for a long time and in the end a good fightback to snatch a point.

The second match would be against a German side who had lost 2-1 to England in their opening match, with the Faroes having home advantage. With just 12 minutes gone, German defender Oliver Grote tried a passback to his keeper that was never going to reach him in a million years, allowing Bogi Hentze to nip and sent the Faroes into a sensational lead. Seven minutes later, Hentze latched onto a long through ball as he sprung the offside trap and the German defence tried in vain to stop him as he added a second goal. This was very un German like, and a minute from half time they were in further trouble as the referee awarded the Faroes a penalty. Midfielder Runi Joensen stepped up, blasted the ball home and the Germans were on the road to humiliation.

The second half was nowhere near as exciting, and there was no further scoring as the Faroes pulled of an exception win. England beat Slovakia 2-1, which meant that the Faroes would now need to beat England to get to the Finals. The again, four years previous the Faroe Islands U-19 had beaten England 2-0 in the Finals, so anything was possible.

Anything may have been possible, but the referee had other ideas. Just seven minutes into the match, he red carded Faroese defender Janus Olsen for what was in reality nothing, stating that he couldn't allow the Faroes to upset another big side and we didn't want a repeat of the greeting English. Or it could just be that the ref was greeting German - which he was. Despite the obvious bias though, Mortan Danielsen still sent the Faroes into an 18th minute lead as they dominated their more illustrious opponents. Five minutes from half time though, England were level although exactly what the linesman thought the offside rule was is anyone's guess and on 66 minutes an ever more dominant England took the lead.

The Faroes did have the ball in the net again, a perfectly good goal, but the referee overruled his linesman - England must win this! And they did. Right on full time, the English grabbed a totally undeserved third and the dream was over.

For another year at least.

shannon2007

UEFA U-21 Championships 2012 - Finals
Italy, May 2012
Group A: Faroes, Italy, Denmark, Bulgaria

And so the team that lost out to Italy rather unluckly in the 2008 U-19 Final are, mostly, brought together again for the U-21 Finals of 2012. Mind you, they also happen to compose the core of the Faroese first team squad. This was a chance for revenge, especially as Italy were now, as they were then, group opponents. But the opening match was not against the Italians, that would have to wait. A match that would be bitterly fought was awaiting in opening, a match with Denmark.

For almost 45 minutes we had pulsating action, but no goals. Thats when Denmark won a free kick which was played wide left, and as the Faroes defence rushed to cover the ball, so they left Frederik Friis unmarked on the right and he easily slotted the ball home and it was the Danes who took a lead into the dressing room at half time. With Faroes seeming to struggle in the middle of the park, just before the hour Ingi decided to replace left sided midfielder Kim Joensen with forward Rasmus Nissen, moving Aki Joensen from his forward position back to a midfield role. Eight minutes later Nissen latched onto a shocking mistake in the Danish defence and the Faroes were level.

With Aki Joensen pulling the strings in midfield, Nissen was having a stormer up front and on 73 minutes he brilliantly set up Anders Berg who confidently sent the Faroes into the lead. The Faroes were rampant, but the Danes are no mugs and just three minute later the Faroese celebrations were muted as Denmarked leveled. This was turning into a classic match, and now it swung back the Danes way. Six minutes from time they were back in the lead, and it looked like another hard luck story from a Faroese side who had played so brilliantly and didn't deserve to lose. Which indeed they wouldn't. Just as it seemed all over, that man Berg popped up two minutes from time and the Faroes snatched a draw in a quite breathtaking opening match.

In the other match Italy struggled to beat Bulgaria 2-1, but the Danes had no such problems against the Bulgars as they romped to an easy 3-0 win. The host nation were looking for the same against the Faroes, but just nine minutes in they were stunned as the referee awarded the Faroes a penalty, which Aki Joensen stepped up to slam past the keeper and the noisy Italians in the healthy 18,382 crowd in the Delle Alpi were silenced - but not for long. The Italians tried to strike back, and threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Faroese defence. It seemed something had to give, and eventually it did as Matteo Parisi headed home a cross and the Italians were level.

Yet Italian joy was short lived, as just four minutes later Berg turned provider for once, setting up Rasmus Nissen and this match was almost like an extension of the Danish game. Despite leading, the Faroes were for the most part being out played and it was no surprise when Italy equalized for the second time three minutes from the interval and the sided went into the break all square. One thing was for sure, you certainly couldn't say watching the Faroes was boring!

The second half, the Faroes came more and more into it, but ironically their dominance failed to produce a goal. As luck would have it though, with fifteen minutes left to play as the Italians looked to ge regaining the upper hand, Nissen stormed down the left and played a perfect pass inside to Berg as he returned the favour and Berg had little hesitation in accepting to send the Faroes into the lead for the third time in this pulsating match. The Italians desperately battled to try and at least snatch a point, but this time the Faroese defence stood firm and revenge was truly gained.

The Faroes therefore went into the last match with Bulgaria needing just a draw, but there was no way they were going to settle for that. Anders Berg and his replacement Kristian Nissen both bagged braces, as Rasmus Nissen and Magni Danielsen also got on the score sheet as the hopeless Bulgars were cast aside with ease. The Danes held the Italians to a draw, which saw them progress and the hosts knocked out. The Semi Final line up would see the Danes take on Spain, whilst the Faroes had a highly winnable match against Hungary. Somehow, it seemed we had been here before!

shannon2007

UEFA U-21 Championships 2012 - Semi Final
Faroe Islands v Hungary
Olimpico, Rome. 31st May 2012, Attendance 21,357

It was certainly a healty enough crowd for a match between two teams that certainly aren't at the pinnacle of world football, and also given that the host nation were now out of the tournament. The Hungarians in their original qualifying group had been in with Scotland, Liechtenstein, Greece, and Italy. Despite losing away to Scotland, Greece and Italy, and only drawing in Liechtenstein, the Hungarians somehow made it to the play off stage, where they took on Sweden. In the first leg, with the Hungarians at home, the looked woeful and went down by 2-0, but incredibly they overcame that deficit, winning 3-1 in Sweden to reach the Finals on the away goals rule.

Their Finals group saw them in with France, Spain and Portugal, a moutwatering group in which the Hungarians were expected to be soundly beaten, just as the Bulgarians had been. An opening match 1-1 draw with France was a creditable result, as the Spanish beat the Portuguese, but a 1-0 loss to Spain made their progress tricky at least - or it should have been had Portugal and France not drawn. In the final round of matches, Spain beat France 2-0, and 1-0 win over Portugal was enough to sent Hungary through with only four points. The bottom line is, Hungary are really not that good and there is nothing to be afraid of here. Then again, they do seem to be right jammy buggers.

It took only ten minutes for Anders Berg to put them to the sword, and another sixteen minutes to add a second. Just before the half hour the Hugarians were reduced to ten men, and it seemed the luck that had carried them so far had deserted them. And thats the thing with Lady Luck, she often has a habit of carrying so far, then kicking you squarely in the balls. On 38 minutes Rasmuss Nissen bagged a third and the second 45 minutes was simply a matter of playing out time and the Faroes had reached the U-21 Final. The only blot was an injury to Morten Larsen that would keep him out of the Final.

And that Final would be against Denmark in a repeat of the opening match. The Danes had been very impressive in sweeping aside the Spanish favourites by 4-1 in Naples to set up and intruiging final encounter which if it lived up to the opening game was set to be a spectacular occassion.......

zipman

Faerøyene til finale wow!