retired_narpinder

Go little Faroes! Go!!!

Good work so far mate. Keep it up!

retired_marcias

Part 6

So, the 8 qualifiers are now decided and the draw for the quarter-finals is as follows (FIFA World Ranking in brackets):

France (6) vs Faroe Islands (34) – Celtic Park, Glasgow
Romania (44) vs England (13) – The Millenium Stadium, Cardiff
Portugal (9) vs Germany (45) – Hampden Park, Glasgow
Italy (10) vs Scotland (1) – The Millenium Stadium, Cardiff

Understandably, many Scotland fans are left wishing that Germany had won their group, leaving Scotland to play at Hampden Park infront of their adoring fans rather than down in Wales. The Faroe Islands have a tough task, but with confidence oozing from the squad, they believe they have a chance to beat France.

With Barður Thomsen suspended, the Faroe Islands recall Kari Mortensen to the starting line-up to face France. Otherwise, manager Adam Eckersley names an unchanged side, with just 6 substitutes on the bench. Speaking before the match, Eckersley confirmed that he fully intended his team to carry on their exciting attacking football against France since his team are far better going forward than trying to sit back and defend. Eckersley was also keen to remind the assembled press of the last meeting between the two sides, a 3-1 win for the Faroes in Thorshavn which formed the launching board for them to qualify for the tournament.

Predictably the opening period is more cagey than the recent group matches, but the match comes to light in spectacular fashion after 15 minutes with a 25-yard drive by Christian Lucas giving France the early advantage. The Faroe Islands respond positively, taking the game to the French, and in the 39th minute get their breakthrough thanks to Allan Andreasen’s persistence near the right corner flag. Andreasen’s accurate cross finds left-back Kristian Jacobsen ghosting in at the near post to score his first international goal to make the score 1-1. An injury to tournament top scorer Mortan Nielsen at the end of the first half is a blow, but Jakup Poulsen is a very able replacement.

Tension begins to mount in the second half as France hit the post on 66 minutes. Faroe Islands remove the ineffectual Magni Nonklett and at last prepare to unleash the talented Olavur Johannesen, injured at the start of the tournament. France attempt to take control of an end to end game, but despite their best efforts, neither side can take advantage until the last 7 minutes of the game when a perfectly weighted ball over the top from Kari Mortensen sends Jakup Poulsen clear to round the ‘keeper and send the Faroese fans into raptures, 2-1 up with time running out. Livingston’s talismanic striker Jerome Gomez does his best to put France back in the game, but as they push forward the Faroes break quickly down the left wing with Allan Andreasen whose cross evades both goalkeeper and defender for Jakup Poulsen to tap into an open net in the 93rd minute and send France crashing out of the tournament. The Faroe Islands meanwhile continue their journey into uncharted waters, the 3-1 win giving them a well-deserved semi-final berth.

retired_marcias

Part 7

In the second quarter-final, England waste a host of chances against a disappointing Romania side, but Nick Osbourne’s 34th minute strike is enough to see them through to the semis where a tougher test will no doubt await. Portugal vs Germany was a predictably close affair, settled by a single goal by Portugal’s Vitor Pires in the 7th minute. Portugal now go through to face England at Celtic Park, Glasgow.

The final quarter-final sees favourites Scotland head south to Cardiff to take on perennial contenders and 2012 winners,Italy. Scotland name the same 11 who beat Russia, with Richard Rhodes still sidelined with broken ribs. Skipper Nick James wins his 102nd international cap, to equal Kenny Dalglish’s record.

Italy take the game to Scotland in the first ten minutes, firing in numerous shots and can think themselves slightly unfortunate not to take an early lead. Scotland survive, however, and 10 minutes later the lethal Ross County combination strikes as Alan Reid motors down the right wing and whips in a fizzing cross which Mark McGlynn powers past the hapless Italian ‘keeper. With half an hour gone, Italy deservedly equalise as Nick James totally misses his header allowing Fabrizio Coppolla to fire in a low shot. Despite totally failing to deal with the mesmerising Alan Reid down the Scotland right wing, Italy head in level at 1-1 at half time.

The flow of the game continues in the second half, with Scotland creating chance after chance, playing regularly down their right flank, but somehow the Italian goal leads a charmed life with goalkeeper, post, crossbar or a covering defender all combining to keep the ball out at times. With 80 minutes on the clock, Scotland make changes, bringing on Graeme Meechan and Scott Miller to pep up the central midfield area. With time running out, Mark McGlynn finds space on the right wing, receives the ball and puts in an early cross for Kevin Watson to control instantly and curl around the ‘keeper for what must surely be the winner. With 14 out of 17 shots on target, few can deny that Scotland deserved to win, but they will need to up their game if they are to win the tournament. Next up, the dream semi-final, especially for fans of Ross County, as their club manager takes his Faroe Islands team to The Millenium Stadium in Cardiff to face his adopted nation of Scotland. Yet again, fans are gutted that they must travel down to Wales to see their team who are supposedly co-hosts of the tournament, but it will no doubt help the Faroe Islands.

retired_marcias

Part 8

As the big day arrives, it seems half the population of the Faroe Islands have decamped to Wales to see their team’s biggest match ever. Bearing in mind that the population of the Faroe Islands is only around 50,000, the entire population could fit into the Millenium Stadium with seats to spare! When you also consider that there are just 279 players on the Faroese FA’s books, it is easy to see why their recent performances have created such a stir. Even 5 years ago, no-one could have imagined that the Faroe Islands could become a force in world football, but no-one can doubt it now, with 9 straight wins behind them in competitive matches.

It is 29 degrees on a clear perfect night in Cardiff and the floodlights blaze out over the stadium, lighting up the river and making the arena stand out for miles around. Scotland are unfortunately without the suspended Kerr Dodds who, at 35 years of age and out of contract at Ross County may well have played the last match of an illustrious international career. His place is taken by Charlton Athletic’s Craig Hamilton. Jim Petrie continues to deputise for Richard Rhodes on the left wing. Tonight also marks another historic occasion as skipper Nick James finally breaks Kenny Dalglish’s record, winning his 103rd cap. The Faroe Islands are without either of their recognised left-backs so right-back Barður Thomsen comes in. Not the best of news since he will have to face Scotland's most dangerous player, flying at him down the Scot's right wing. Jakup Poulsen remains on the bench despite his 2 goals against France, but will undoubtedly play a part if needed.

It’s Scotland’s midfield maestro Michael Reid who catches the eye in the opening minutes, crashing a thunderous effort against the crossbar with the Faroese ‘keeper brilliantly saving Kevin Watson’s effort off the rebound. On 7 minutes, however, there is no denying Michael Reid as he steers Watson’s cross into the net. Scotland continue to dominate and double their lead with a simple finish from Alan Reid in the 24th minute.

The Faroe Islands manage to stem the flow of Scottish attacks as the first half ends and the second half begins. Jakup Poulsen, Olavur Johanessen and Olavur Gregersen are all thrown on in an attempt to change the course of the game and eventually the goal comes – on 71 minutes Kristian Jacobsen crosses for Mortan Nielsen to net the goal which gives the Faroes hope. 7 minutes later those hopes look to be extinguished as the Faroes’ attacking instincts leave them woefully short at the back, Alan Reid taking full advantage to set up Mark McGlynn for Scotland’s 3rd goal. In the end the difference in class just proved too much for the Faroe Islands to breach – their successes have come from having a team of fit, strong, pacey individuals with a very good physical presence, but Scotland have the same, but with talent and skill in abundance to go with it. The 3-1 win sees Scotland through to defend their title.

The second semi-final is a bit of a let down after the frantic nature of the first, but with a place in the final up for grabs, neither Portugal nor England want to give anything away. In the end, despite England having more chances, it is Portugal who take their chance, scoring the only goal of the game in the 17th minute to setup a repeat of the 2016 European Championship final which ended in a silver goal defeat for the Portuguese. They will hope that this time they can gain revenge. They will have to do so though in the hostile atmosphere of Hampden Park in front of a passionate Scots crowd.

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Part 9 - The Final

For the final, Scotland welcome back Kerr Dodds for an international farewell infront of his adoring home fans and also replace Jim Petrie with Real Betis winger Stuart Miller. In a tight game, Kevin Watson breaks the deadlock in the 25th minute with a low hard shot past Portuguese ‘keeper Jose Teixeira. Within 10 minutes, Portugal are reeling as Alan Reid sets up Watson whose shot is parried by Teixeira, but only into the path of Mark McGlynn who turns on a sixpence to squeeze the ball home.

The half-time break provides 15 minutes of welcome release for Portugal, but the onslaught is renewed in the second half and within 5 minutes, Steven Miller crosses for Kevin Watson to add the third goal. Jose Ribeiro pulls one back, but Scotland are not unduly worried with so much attacking flair on the pitch to add more goals if needed. The final whistle is greeted with deafening cheers as a nation celebrates the achievements of their outstanding football team. Everyone expected Scotland to win, but with expectation comes nerves and at times the Scots didn’t look like a world-beating team, but ultimately they just had too much for the other teams they faced.

As Nick James comes up to collect the trophy for the second time in 4 years, the whole nation can breath a sigh of relief and begin to reflect on the achievements of their team. Maybe only once in a lifetime will a nation have such a gifted and talented team, and all those who were there at Hampden Park or watched the match on television know that they are privileged to have witnessed one of the all-time great international teams.

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Epilogue

For some Scotland players it will be their last championship trophy, and maybe for all if they fail to retain their World Cup title in 2 years time. For Kerr Dodds in particular, the sands of time are flowing quickly and his international career is probably at an end now, but what an end it was. 52,492 adoring fans gave him and his team-mates a 15 minute standing ovation at the end of the match and it was a day that no-one who was there will ever forget. Dodds has spent the last 16 seasons playing in the first team for Ross County after breaking into the team a year earlier. He eventually broke into the Scotland team and established himself, but only truly came into his own on the international scene when Brian Irvine took over as manager and played him in his favoured right-back role. Together with his great friend Nick James, who came through the Ross County youth system, he has played a massive part in every one of County’s amazing 32 trophies during those 16 years and the two of them must surely be the most successful players in Scottish football history with a Confederations Cup, 2 European Championship titles and a World Cup to their name also.

For other players, many years of international football still lie ahead, and who knows how many more trophies they may bring back home. 27 year old Alan Reid is at the height of his powers and is likely to continue terrorising opposition left-backs for both club and country for the next 5 or more years. He and his many Ross County team-mates in the Scotland setup will now look to the upcoming club season as they seek to bring yet more silverware to the Victoria Park trophy room. People always say that football goes in cycles and maybe one day Ross County's domination of Scottish football will come to an end too, but for now the excellent setup and youth system at the club continues to rejuvenate the squad with young talented players to add to the experience around them.

So there ends the story of the 2020 European Championships. The Faroe Islands returned to a hero’s welcome in Thorshavn with Mortan Nielsen’s 6 goals earning him the prestigious golden boot award ahead of Scotland’s Mark McGlynn (5 goals) and Kevin Watson (4 goals). Equally pleasing for Nielsen is that his goal glut has taken him past [i]Allan Andreasen to be his country's all time top goalscorer. Also worthy of a mention is Kristian Jacobsen’s 7 assists from 5 games, more than anyone else in the competition despite only making his international debut in the first game of the tournament. The Faroe Islands’ 16 goals was also the most in the tournament, 2 ahead of eventual champions Scotland, a feat of which they can justifiably be very proud. As for Scotland, there is no reason to believe they can’t go on to dominate international football for the next decade off the back of their foundations of the last 5-10 years.

It has been a nail-biting journey, from the first qualifying match to the final itself for all the teams involved, but in the end the predictions all came true and the red hot favourites lived up to their billing. Scotland won, but it was the Faroe Islands, down and out with 3 qualifying matches to go, who stole the hearts of the journalists and the fans so let the last word be with them - a plucky and exciting team who took their nation on a ride they will never forget. Manager Adam Eckersley has achieved so much with club-side Ross County, but for him, this was the crowning glory of his career, after more than 10 years in charge of the Faroe Islands.

The End