retired_jonkaytif

Faroe Islands 0 Switzerland 1
Saturday 4th June 2005
Ref: Florian Meyer
Att: 9974


Due to injuries there was a bit of a defensive reshuffle. The starting XI read as:

Mikkelsen, Johannesen, J Joensen, J Hansen S Joensen; Mortansson, Jorgensen, Thomassen, Benjaminsen; a Borg, Elttor.

Todays referee was Mr Meyer who last officiated in the friendly v Canada, and I was hoping he wasnt going to bring the same bad luck again. That being said, it was an exceptionally spirited performance, with the players passing with confidence and causing the Swiss players quite a few problems. Unfortunately, we were hit by a hammer blow in injury time in the first half when Streller sneaked in behind the back line and smoothly tucked away what was their best, and to be honest, only real chance of the match until that point.

The second half followed much of the same pattern. Us pressing and attempting to test their keeper without much success, whilst by the closing half hour the Swiss grew in confidence and you could see it just wasnt going to be out afternoon. Over the piece, I felt we really did deserve a draw.

Other results:

Ireland 4 Israel 1

retired_jonkaytif

Faroe Islands v Ireland
Wednesday 8th June 2005
Ref: Valentin Ivanov
Att: 9976

This was a Braveheart performance of epic proportions. Ireland looked unsettled from the off, and the Faroes midfield, wholly rejuvenated and finding growing confidence with every game were causing problems at every turn. Such was the passing and movement, ireland were occasionally reduced to just 'hoofing' the ball up the field to gain some respite. And so it wasnt long until the my boys opened the scoring through Jonsson in 14 minutes when a wicked free kick clipped the top of the wall and flew into the goal.

The crowd then exploded into life when another surging attack forward ended up in referee Ivanov pointing to the spot after Jonsson was scythed down in the box. A Borg stepped up confidently in 26 minutes, only to sadly ballon the ball over the bar.

This took the wind out my players a touch, and Ireland, after slowly coming back into the game more scored with their own penalty through Reid in 39 minutes. In perhaps their only real attack in the 2nd half, Robbie Keane stole the game and the 3 points when he thrashed a shot home after 54 minutes.

My lads tried and tried, with Jonsson putting in a Kenny Miller-esque performance (for those that saw the two Scotland games this week), but sadly it was not to be. So near yet so far.

Teams are perhaps now finding points harder to come by when they play the Faroes, and although we took nothing from this, it was a deserved 1 or 2 points from both games.

Faroe Islands 1 Ireland 2


Other results: None


Group:


Ireland 7 pld/19pts
France 6/16
Cyprus 6/8
Switzerland 6/7
Faroes 6/4
Israel 7/0

retired_deedee465

I'm sure bad luck will turn at some point in your game !
keep it up !

retired_jonkaytif

FC - The injuries dont bother me too much - all part and parcel of international football. I would have to confess after some of the batterings in 2004, I did wonder what id let myself in for. However, the battling, if pointless at the moment, performances of 2005 have raised my hopes. Finishing 4th would be a fantastic achievement!!

retired_enid_whitten

honestly, in a cm 01/02 game once, the faroe islands got 3rd place at the 2012 world cup.

retired_deedee465

I fully agree with that.
I always wonder in these sort of challenges if one day real talent will show up...

retired_deedee465

A worldclass striker could shoot you to the WC on his own !

retired_jonkaytif

I suspect I may have to enter the murky underworld of bribery to equal that achievement!!

retired_bronster

Great story, must admire taking a weak national team and making it a world dominant power
ps, something is weird about the match engine, 7 games, and 0 points to israel?? we already have about 15 in real life
keep up the good work mate

retired_jonkaytif

The 11th July saw me celebrate my first year in charge here in the Faroe Islands, and looking back I think I can be quite pleased at how things have gone. A couple of victories (some competitive, some otherwise), a few draws, but also some resounding defeats. On the plus side, in recent months, the team has been playing with much greater confidence, and certainly gave both Switzerland and Ireland a tough game, albeit I still emerged from those matches without any points. On the whole, there has certainly been some forward progress, and hopefully that progress will continue.

On the domestic front, all 3 representatives crash out of Europe before August. HB narrowly lost in the Qualifying 1st round of the Champions League to WIT-Georgia 4-3 on agg. B71 were swiftly eliminated from the Intertoto Cup by a fellow team of minnows from Macedonia, whilst EB and AB were defeated in the UEFA CUp by Zimbru of Moldova and Inter Turku (Finland) respectively. Not a good campaign for any team concerned.

And so August brings Cyprus to Torshavn. This is the only group game and with the seasn barely up and running both teams will be a bit rusty I think. Hans Hansen returns replacing Hans a Lag. Neither Ossur Hansen or Ennigaro are recalled, despite the doubt hanging over Jan Ingi Petersen and his slight niggling injury.

As soon as the squad was announced Magnus Poulsen pulls out. However, due to either the game or some ridiculous rule, I was unable to move Gunnar Nielsen in from the U21s. Thus, a complete rookie Pol Naess Joensen (HB) gets his first call up. New boy Alsakur Petersen also injured and so Ennigaro does indeed return.

The media is not exactly optimistic.