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This was a truly sensational performance and an absolute beating. Previous performances had suggested that a victory could well soon be on the cards, but to win in such emphatic style was outwith everyone's dreams.
This game was all but over by the 19th minute as the Faroes swept into a 3-0 lead, led by talisman a Borg and the able support play of Jonsson. His first came in 12 minutes with a lovely strike beyond the Cyprus keeper, before racing behind the Cyprus defence more or less straight from kick off and slotting home his second. The shell shocked Cypriot keeper then had to pick the ball out of his net a 3rd time in 19 mins as a Borg sealed his hattrick. Incredibly, he then stole a 4th goal in the 38th minute and by this point the Faroes were in dreamland.
The second half didnt quite have the same forward momentum, with Cyprus surging up the park at every opportunity and the defense looking a touch ropey. However, the game was completely sealed once the referee penalised their goalkeeper for a pushing offence in the box, and J Hansen of all people slotted home the resulting penalty (63 min). There was still enough time however for Jonsson to get a goal in injury time which was just reward for all his endeavour in this game - albeit it was a complete fluke.
This was a sensational performance, but it does need to be put in context - we only had 6 shots on target in the whole game, so to win 6-0 was a touch fortunate.
This certainly represents a massive forward step, and also my first competitive home victory. This are certainly looking up, and moving Jonsson into a more forward role seems to have really changed things.
Having now moved up to 126th in the world, September rolled around, and with it a double header away to France and then hosting Israel. Johan Byrial Hansen was dropped from this squad and replaced by Aslakur Petersen who managed to shake off a previous injury. Av Flotum was unfortunately crocked, and his replacement was Aki MOrk of IF.
Understandable, their was a buzz around the country after the previous incredible result, which left my squad being treated like gods. It also set a new record for our biggest win, and, to be quite honest, I was immensely proud, if a little shocked with our last performance. That aside, the trip to Paris was always going to be fraught with danger, and in truth, I really dont think the French side were at all concerned with our recent good form.
The media was ridiculously optimistic, but I didnt really see us taking anything from this game. That being said, I was certainly going to have a go. Johannis Joensen was suspended after being sent off in the game against Cyprus (which I neglected to mention in the last report!!)
France 7 Faroe Islands 0 Saturday 3rd September 2005 Ref: Franz-Xaver Wack Att: 72 719
XI: Mikkelsen; Johannsen, S Joensen, J Hansen, H Hansen; Mortansson, Jorgenson, Thomasson, Benjaminsen; a Borg, Jonsson.
This was a truly, truly, truly awful performance. We found ourselves 1-0 down straight from kick off after 29 seconds (Pires), and that really set the tone for the whole game. As promised, I set up a team that was more attack-based than defence-based, and for that I have to take the whole blame and learn a valuable lesson. It was only when we reverted to a 5-4-1 heavily defensive formation that we managed to stop the French scoring for fun. In future, I wont be quite so attacking away from home against the Group's top seed.
Not a single player could really be given pass marks, and no one really turned up. Even the growingly influential Jonsson was posted missing. And so the goals flooded in: Henry in 17, 19 and 27 minutes, with Kapo breaking up his hattrick in the 22nd minute. Trezeguet got in on the action in 35 mins, and Henry got his fourth and the French's final goal in 88 mins.
From the brilliant to the awful, this was a painful reminder that we are one of the group's weaker teams. Lessons have been learned, but alot can be taken from the last 4 games and the positive strides taken, and hopefully that can be put to good use against Israel.
Looking ahead to the next game, 3 points really isnt an unattainable goal, and with Israel still pointless, and the fight still on for 4th place, this is definitely a game we will play to win.
Faroe Islands v Israel Wednesday 7th September 2005 Ref: Uriah Rennie Att: 9982
This was a game I was happy to see. Back home in front of a much smaller crowd (the 72000-odd crowd in France perhaps unsettled the players as well), and back home safe and sound after the gubbing on Saturday, we would hopefully get a much needed morale-boosting win.
XI: The same as in France, except J Joensen replaced S Joensen at left back after he returned from suspension.
Suffice to say, this game did not go at all according to plan. Within 5 minutes, Israel were in our penalty area, J Hansen committed himself to a clumsy challenge, and referee Rennie was conned into believing the Israelis swallow dive was indeed a foul. Benayoun stepped up to take the penalty, and easily slotted it home. This should have jolted my troops into action, but it really didnt, and play was lethargic and complacent at times. Fortunately an equaliser did occur, and it was that man a Borg again who scored a well-worked goal in 15mins.
Given the abysmal record Israel have in the Group, I would have hoped for a much more spirited performance. But in truth, it was Israel who did most of the attacking and created most of the chances. It was only good defensive worked that stopped them stealing all 3 points. Even in the 2nd half we found ourselves posted missing and offering little.
This was a very disappointing performance, especially since we became the first team to drop points against Israel. This was certainly a chance missed, but I suppose on the back of a morale sapping slaughtering in France, it at least allowed us to get some points on the board.
Other results:
Cyprus 1 Switzerland 2
Ireland 3 France 3
With Cyprus and Switzerland now only playing France and Ireland in their remaining two games, the Swiss victory in Cyprus was a huge boost to our hopes of perhaps stealing 4th place in what would be a memorable qualifying campaign. Ive no idea how the seedings are made for later tournaments, but a 4th placed finish might move us up a pot or 2 and make life a touch easier in the future. At least a point is need in Israel to ensure that eventuality, assuming of course Ireland and France take 6 points each off their opponents.
Originally posted by ptfc_kev: Faroe Islands v Israel Wednesday 7th September 2005 Ref: Uriah Rennie Att: 9982
This was a game I was happy to see. Back home in front of a much smaller crowd (the 72000-odd crowd in France perhaps unsettled the players as well), and back home safe and sound after the gubbing on Saturday, we would hopefully get a much needed morale-boosting win.
XI: The same as in France, except J Joensen replaced S Joensen at left back after he returned from suspension.
Suffice to say, this game did not go at all according to plan. Within 5 minutes, Israel were in our penalty area, J Hansen committed himself to a clumsy challenge, and referee Rennie was conned into believing the Israelis swallow dive was indeed a foul. Benayoun stepped up to take the penalty, and easily slotted it home. This should have jolted my troops into action, but it really didnt, and play was lethargic and complacent at times. Fortunately an equaliser did occur, and it was that man a Borg again who scored a well-worked goal in 15mins.
Given the abysmal record Israel have in the Group, I would have hoped for a much more spirited performance. But in truth, it was Israel who did most of the attacking and created most of the chances. It was only good defensive worked that stopped them stealing all 3 points. Even in the 2nd half we found ourselves posted missing and offering little.
This was a very disappointing performance, especially since we became the first team to drop points against Israel. This was certainly a chance missed, but I suppose on the back of a morale sapping slaughtering in France, it at least allowed us to get some points on the board.
Faroes Islands 1 Israel 1
Other results:
Cyprus 1 Switzerland 2
Ireland 3 France 3
With Cyprus and Switzerland now only playing France and Ireland in their remaining two games, the Swiss victory in Cyprus was a huge boost to our hopes of perhaps stealing 4th place in what would be a memorable qualifying campaign. Ive no idea how the seedings are made for later tournaments, but a 4th placed finish might move us up a pot or 2 and make life a touch easier in the future. At least a point is need in Israel to ensure that eventuality, assuming of course Ireland and France take 6 points each off their opponents.
Originally posted by ptfc_kev:
I've no idea how the seedings are made for later tournaments, but a 4th placed finish might move us up a pot or 2 and make life a touch easier in the future. At least a point is need in Israel to ensure that eventuality, assuming of course Ireland and France take 6 points each off their opponents.
yeps,could see you with "beatable opponents"
Hang on to this save, I'm curious about how your squad will progress !
:thup:
FC - Would be nice to be in a group where I could say at the start that there is a team or 2 I would strongly fancy my chances against!! Time will tell. Will be interested to see how squad develops. 15 months on some of the players are now really the wrong side of 30 so the forthcoming friendly games will be a good chance to blood a few younger players.
October 2005
The Group stages of the qualifying round for Germany 2006 finally reach their conclusion this month, and although most teams are playing twice, I only have my one remaining tie away to Israel - a team that really should have promised so much but have failed to deliver (a strange match engine indeed Eli). However, it is not an easy place to go to, and since a point would probably guarantee me 4th place, I certainly wasnt going to adopt a gung-ho attitude to this fixture. Although meaningless in the grand scheme of things, a 4th placed finish could perhaps make life easier in the future, so the fixture took on added importance.
Prior to the squad being named, Mork had to withdraw having picked up an injury during club football. In any event, he probably wouldnt have been picked as I was more keen to reinstate Av Flotum to the squad now that his minor injury had cleared up.
The media is naturally optimistic given Israel's appauling record and our (surprising) good form in recent months. There was also the added bonus that, for the very first time during my 15 month tenure of the national squad, there was not a single call off after the squad was announced. A pleasant change indeed.
And so, for the final time in this (my first) qualifying campaign, I led the troops onto the plane departing Vagar for the long flight to Israel.....
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