retired_marcias

They're a great nation to manage :p

BarryLFC

There are a lot of Socts on here, they like the chance to manage a proper international side

Good stuff PM, but that almost goes without saying. </BLOCKQUOTE>

Also, the Faroese and Scots are not dissimilar, and geographically neighbours.

shannon2007

I think Iain's right, the Faroes are what Scotland could be if we were better

BarryLFC

:ø

shannon2007

This story isn't dead btw, I've just had flu all week. erm I mean

shannon2007

Faroe Islands v Germany
European Championships (2008) Qualifiers Group Three, Match Day One

And so, just two games shy of the end of the Icelandic domestic season, and on the day of the Icelandic Cup Final, a whole host of IBV players went off to play for their native Faroes in as a hard a start to the qualifying they could have imagined. The plus side to this match was that, if Faroes could achieve anything positive at all it would be a great confidence booster. The real fear though was an absolute mauling that would undo any percieved progress for years to come.

There was only one change from the side that had ended the World Cup campaign with a 3-1 defeat in Israel - Einar Petersen coming into the defensive midfield role in place of Henning Jarnskor. The line up then, and probably the prefered team for the duration unless any youngsters managed to break down the door, was:

Gunnar Nielsen (20) IBV; Simun Joensen (23) IBV, Johan Byrial Hansen (31) AC Horsens, Leon Kjaerbaek (25) IBV, Mortan I Horg (26) IBV; Einar Petersen (20) IBV; Johan V Gunnarsson (19) IBV, Claus Jorgensen (30) AB; Jann Ingi Petersen (22) IBV, Christian Holst (24) IBV, Todi Jonsson (34) Start

Although no Faroese in their right minds actually expected to beat Germany, such was the growing confidence surrounding the national side that a draw certainly wasn't out of the question. Yet it was clear from the kick off that the Germans were not here to take it easy, and it took a few great saves early on from Nielsen to keep Faroese hearts from popping and hopes from snapping and as half time approached the tiny Faroe Islands were holding the mighty Germany at level pegging. Yet so much pressure surely had to pay off sometime, and with five minutes till the break, Kevin Kuranyi finally got in behind the Faroese defence and Nielsen had no chance with his superb finish.

There was little despondancy at half time though amongst the Faroe support. Their team had performed admirably, and if they did so for the next forty five minutes they would at least be able to hold their heads high. And indeed the second half continued with the pattern of the first, the home side making little headway against the German onslaught but a solid rearguard action preventing the Gerries from adding to their tally.

Just after the hour though, Todi Jonsson was pulled up for 'jumping unfairly' with a German. Hardly a hanging offence, but in his stupidity the referee, a Dutch turd would you believe, decided that Jonsson jolly well deserved a yellow card. And that being his second yellow, he was then shown red and dismissed from the field of play. Any hopes the Faroes still retained and been cruelly and pointlessly blown away.

Indeed, just seven minutes later Michael Ballack broke Faroese hearts as he made it 2-0 and only another four minutes passed before Klose added a third and the match had clearly been ruined by inefficient officialdom. To their great credit, the Faroese players valiantly battled on against the mighty German oppressor, but deep into injury time the Germans added a 4th and then as if to make sure of adding more injury to a stupid amount of insult, they added a 5th.

To be sure, the Germans had totally dominated the game, and some would say the 5-0 scoreline was no more than they deserved. Those people would be wrong though, and if it hadn't been for one poor refereeing decision there is little doubt this match would have ended in a glorious draw!

retired_aurie

A very entertaining story PM
KUTGW

shannon2007

Thanx axeman

shannon2007

Norway v Faroe Islands
European Championships (2008) Qualifiers Group Three, Match Day Two

The peformance for an hour against Germany had given the Faroese support a lot to be happy about, and it was with a great deal of confidence they made the trip to neighbours Norway. Norway though were on a bit of a trip themselves, having opened their Euro Qualifying campaign with a good away win in Denmark.

Despite that win, there was a feeling in the Faroes that neither Norway nor indeed Denmark were all that good really, and if their side could just raise their level a little bit, then points could be gained. It seemed though that fate just didn't like the Faroe Islands. Only two minutes had gone when Jann Ingi Petersen had to go off injured. Ten minutes later John Carew sent Norway into the lead, and just seven minutes after that Johan V Gunnarsson became the second Faroese player to leave the field injured. Such things did little to help the team find any rythym and indeed tended to bugger up any tactical plays the manager might have felt he had.

Although Norway were, as you might expect, domintating proceedings a fair bit they were far from as skillful a side as the Germans. It was therefore rather painful as Carew added a second goal with 38 minutes gone. Nevertheless, Faroes kept plugging away and although they rarely threatened to score, at least they didn't lose any more goals and in the end an air of respectibility was achieved. Which is really what football is all about.

Isn't it?

shannon2007

If other results worked in their favour, then IBV could clinch the Icelandic League title with two matches to play. If they could beat fellow title challengers IA at home. Indeed, it must have seemed their day as news drifted through that FH were trailing Prottur by 4-0 after just 16 minutes in a match they would eventually lose 5-1. Main rivals Fram though were to go in 1-0 up at the break in their visit to KA, a result which would take the title to the wire whatever happened. And what happened was that a 23rd minute goal from Baldur Sigurdsson has sent IA in to the break in Vestmannaeyjar a goal ahead.

As the second half progressed, so news came through that Fram were to eventually lose 3-1. With FH also losing, the title was all but given to IBV but for one tiny little fact - they too were losing still! Nine minutes from time Jann Ingi Petersen finally brought a sigh of relief from the home support with a fine goal, but the point was not enough to mathematically secure their second successive title.

A tough trip away to a KR side who had only just survived relegation was waiting as the final match for an IBV side who could actually afford to lose and they would still be Champions - as long as they didn't lose too much. Of course.

A ninth minute goal from sixteen year old midfielder Thomas Overgaard - his first ever professional strike - settled any nerves IBV might have had and a poor KR side had no hope of any come back as Chrisitian Holst added a brace and the title was won in style. And indeed, it had been a stylish title triumph when all was said an done. Perhaps sometimes the players hadn't quite played at the level most knew they were capable of, but the fact was they had gone the whole league season unbeaten and had lost only nine league goals. The signs were that things could only get better domestically for the IBV support and the big challenge now was to somehow crack Europe.

That though was a challenge that would not be conquered overnight.