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Article from the Dingwall Times on Saturday 1st January 2011

Eckersley's Faroes leap 7 places

Hamish Brodie reports:

Ross County manager Adam Eckersley was today absolutely delighted as the new FIFA world rankings were published, seeing his Faroese team rise 7 places from 151st to 144th in the world. Whilst it is only a small rise, Eckersley is very pleased that his team are heading in the right direction despite 2 defeats in their 3 matches so far in the qualifying for Euro 2012. With the Faroes expected to lose or at best draw each match in their group, any win was likely to reflect favourably in their FIFA ranking.

How far the Faroes can rise in the rankings remains to be seen, but with the likes of Grenada, Tahiti, Turkmenistan, Gabon, Azerbaijan, Saint Lucia, The Cook Islands, Vanuatu and Lesotho occupying places between the Faroes and Eckersley's target of a top 100 ranking, there is potential for a further rise if the team can put together some decent results in their upcoming matches.

Elsewhere in the Faroese group, Northern Ireland dropped a place to 86th, Switzerland dropped 5 places to 83rd, Austria fell to 66th from 61st and Germany rose impressively from 28th up to 19th. The current top 20 in the FIFA rankings are as follows:

1. Brazil
2. Nigeria
3. France
4. Argentina
5. Ukraine
6. South Korea
7. Colombia
8. Cameroon
9. Senegal
10. Japan
11. Australia
12. Norway
13. Egypt
14. South Africa
15. Greece
16. Croatia
17. United States
18. Italy
19. Germany
20. Algeria

Other rankings of note:

27. Republic of Ireland
34. England
51. Holland
53. Wales
59. Spain
62. Scotland

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Germany vs Faroe Islands

from BayArena, Munich

Referee: Kenny Clark

Wednesday April 6th 2011

Team line-ups:

Faroe Islands:
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> Morten PetersenVagnur Mohr Mortensen Atli Gregerson Hallur Lakjuni Ólavur Gregerson Magni Joensen Jón Rói Jacobsen Rógvi Jacobsen | | | | | | | | Jan Djurhuus | | Rógvi Hojgaard | \ / \ / | | | | | | | | | \ / Birgir Olsen \ /</pre>
Germany:
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> &lt;------------Miroslav Klose Benjamin Lauth----------&gt; Sebastian Deisler &lt;------------Michael Ballack Thorsten Frings----------&gt; Sebastian Kehl Tobias Rau Christoph Metzelder Robert Huth Phillipp Lahm Timo Hildebrand</pre>

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FT: Germany 4-0 Faroe Islands

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Lauth 14Frings 60Dietz pen 83,86</pre>

Despite the scoreline, solid defending was again the hallmark of this Faroese performance, at least for the first hour of the game. The Faroe Islands went into this game knowing full well that they had next to no chance of getting anything out of it so they came to defend and did so with great success in the first half, but when you create so few chances and struggle to get out of your own half against such classy opposition, even the best defending is likely to come undone from time to time. So it was on 14 minutes when Benjamin Lauth put the Germans infront. From then on, the writing was on the wall for the Faroes who switched tactics around numerous times in an attempt to create more chances whilst staying tight defensively.

Ultimately, the Germans' pressure paid off on the hour mark as Torsten Frings fired in after a corner was unsuccessfully cleared. Faroese manager Adam Eckersley again switched tactics around and threw on some attacking substitutes in a brave attempt to nick a goal, but with more and more spaces appearing in the Faroese defence the Germans were always likely to add to their tally. A penalty 7 minutes from time and a 4th goal 3 minutes later, both from Sascha Deitz wrapped up what was, in the end, a comfortable win for the home side, with the Faroese having just one good effort on goal all match.

In the other group match, Austria scored an injury time equaliser to draw 2-2 at home to Northern Ireland. 4 days earlier, Germany had won 1-2 away to the Northern Irish while Switzerland and Austria played out a 3-3 draw. With Germany well in control of the group, the 2nd place is still wide open, but Austria and Switzerland appear to be the favourites as the group heads into the second half with the return fixtures.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">European Football Championship 2012 Qualification Pos Inf Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag G.D. Pts ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1st Germany 4 4 0 0 8 1 +7 12 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2nd Austria 4 1 2 1 7 6 +1 5 3rd Switzerland 4 1 2 1 5 5 0 5 4th Faroe Islands 4 1 0 3 2 8 -6 3 5th N.Ireland 4 0 2 2 5 7 -2 2 </pre>

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Match Report & Interview from the Dingwall Times on Saturday 11th June 2011

Faroese manager admits frustration and disappointment

Hamish Brodie speaks to Ross County and Faroe Islands manager Adam Eckersley:

FT: Austria 3-0 Faroe Islands
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Wallner 45, 84Math 89</pre>

Two late goals yet again condemned the Faroe Islands to a heavy defeat in their Euro 2012 qualifying match in Austria today. The Austrians were frustrated in the first half by resolute Faroese defending, but finally broke the deadlock on the stroke of half time as Roman Wallner drove the ball past the despairing dive of Mortan Peterson. The Faroese switched to 4-2-4 for the second half in an attempt to get the equaliser, but again failed to create chances as Austria punished the visitors with late goals from Bernhard Math and Roman Wallner again.

A distraught and unhappy Faroese manager Adam Eckersley spoke extensively to me after the match on how difficult the Faroe Islands job really is.

Hamish: Adam, you look thoroughly dejected by today's result - had you expected more?

Adam: Ach! It's not just today's result Hamish, we were expected to get beaten by Austria just like by Germany and we did. I'm just disappointed and frustrated by the way our matches have gone at times.

Hamish: The job is different to what you expected?

Adam: I don't know, I don't really think so. I knew it'd be tough, I knew we'd be likely to lose whenever we took to the field. As a manager though you have to have a belief in yourself and maybe I had hopes that we could perhaps do something more than we have, that I could make a difference. It's been hard though - almost all the players I can choose from are lacking match practice, they mostly play in the Faroese league and it's a huge step up for them to play against international teams.

Hamish: The win against Northern Ireland must have pleased you immensely though?

Adam: Sure, it's not all been bad - that was the one game were we really managed to create and take some chances and the lads were fantastic and fully deserved the win. We have some talented players in the squad, they just don't seem to have the confidence. Attacking we always seem to need one touch more than you are allowed at this level to get a cross in, play a killer pass or get a shot off.

Hamish: Are you regretting taking the job when you could almost certainly have taken an easier international job?

Adam: Not at all, Hamish. I'm not looking for an easy job and I love a challenge, it's just sometimes you look at the results, look at the performances and just can't see how things will improve. I guess I'm so disappointed and unhappy at the moment because I feel clueless how to improve our performances. Of course we are expected to lose every game, but that's no help to me - if we go onto the pitch thinking we have lost before we even kick off we might as well not turn up at all. I have to find some tactics, chose a team that can compete and create chances both at home and away to at least give us a chance.

Hamish: There have been positive signs though in your 5 matches so far haven't there?

Adam: If you ask me that tomorrow I'd probably be back to my usual self and be finding all the positives from all our performances - it's just tough sometimes straight after a match where you feel you tried everything and nothing worked. Our defending has been really solid for the most part in all our matches. I know that sounds stupid when you look at the table and see 11 goals conceded, but so often we have just made one defensive error or the opposition made one incisive pass. We've conceded 5 of those 11 goals in the last 10 minutes of matches which at least shows we defended well for the first 80 minutes for the most part. We just don't have the creativity and attacking flair at the moment to come back from going a goal down. Away from home I have to admit I am struggling to work out how to play it when we go a goal down - when we try to chase the game we concede late goals, but carrying on defensively isn't my style and doesn't seem very promising either.

Hamish: Can you see the Faroe Islands qualifying for a World Cup or European Championships at all?

Adam: To be honest Hamish, it looks about as likely as putting a man on Pluto, but things change, we'll maybe find some new young players coming through or maybe begin to work better and pass better as a team and gain confidence. It was never likely that we'd qualify for Euro 2012, just to win some games is an achievement, but as a manager, losing hurts, even if it's expected by everyone - I'm used to winning now with Ross County and it's hard to just admit that the other team are a class apart from us on a football field. I'm not going to give up though - there's no pressure of course from the fans or the FA, they are delighted we beat Northern Ireland, the pressure is all from myself on myself. I love the Faroe Islands as a country now though, I love the people and I desperately want to make the fans proud of their national team. Maybe I'll fail, but if I do I'll fail having given it all I can.

Hamish: Well we wish you all the best and I know the Ross County Faroese supporters group fully intend to keep following your progress and travelling to Torshavn and around Europe to support you.

Adam: Thanks Hamish. I have to say, it makes me feel proud and a real part of something special when I see the Ross County flags at Faroe Islands matches and the fans supporting me. The fans of Ross County have taken me to their heart and their support means the world to me - for them to travel to support me when I'm managing the Faroe Islands is something quite special.

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Northern Ireland vs Faroe Islands

from Windsor Park, Belfast

Referee: Stefano Farina

Wednesday 15th June 2011

Team line-ups:

Faroe Islands:
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> Morten PetersenVagnur Mohr Mortensen Atli Gregerson Ólavur Gregerson Jan Poulsen Rógvi Jacobsen Jan Djurhuus Súni Olsen Kári Justinussen | | | | | | | | | \ / | \ / | | \ / Teitur Rasmussen Andrew av Flotum</pre>
Northern Ireland:

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> &lt;------------Stuart Elliot Paul McVeigh----------&gt; / \ Darren Gibson Andrew Johnston Damien Johnson / \ | | | | | | Stephen McClean John Anderson &lt;-------George McCartney Danny Griffin Aaron Hughes-------&gt; Roy Carroll</pre>

[This message was edited by glamdring on 11 March 2004 at 0:27.]

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FT: Northern Ireland 4-0 Faroe Islands
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Johnston 24McVeigh 37, 41, 46</pre>

In a disappointing performance at Windsor Park, Belfast, the Faroe Islands were outclassed by Northern Ireland as Paul McVeigh hit a hat-trick to add to Andrew Johnston's opener. The Faroes again failed to create more than a single chance and despite some decent passing looked pretty woeful. Manager Adam Eckersley must be wondering what he can change for the two home matches against Switzerland and Germany to finish the group. In the other Group 3 match, Germany won 0-2 in Switzerland, who were leapfrogged by Northern Ireland who move 3rd in the group. The Faroes now prop up the group having scored just 2 goals and conceded 15.

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Match Summary from the Dingwall Times on Wednesday 14th September 2011

Two off as Faroes crash again

Jan Poulson and Rógvi Jacobsen were both sent off as the Faroe Islands crashed to their 5th defeat of the calender year in their Euro 2012 qualifying group. The only positive from a dismal game for the Faroese was an excellent solo goal from Jan Djurhuus, their first since the 2-1 win over Northern Ireland. Other than that there was very little positive for manager Adam Eckersley to take from this match.

Playing an attacking 4-4-2 formation, the Faroes were ripped apart throughout the game as the Swiss created 20 shots on goal, David Huber scoring the first on just 6 minutes, with Phillippe Meoli adding a hat-trick with 2 before the break and 1 in injury time at the end of the game.

Speaking after the match, Eckersley was extremely frank saying that his team were outclassed in all areas and must improve on the basics if they are to progress at all as a footballing nation. He commented that the lack of competitive match practice for his players was a serious problem and the step up is just proving too great for many. He did however take time to hail Jan Djurhuus' excellent goal as giving a glimmer of hope that the Faroes can at least score.

FT: Faroe Islands 1-4 Switzerland
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Djurhuus 66 Huber 6 Meoli 31, 37, 90Poulsen s/o 46Jacobsen s/o 73</pre>

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Summer 2012

It's been a while since I updated my Faroese diaries so it's time to bring the good public up to date, although as is the case with International football management when you don't qualify for the major tournaments there hasn't been a huge amount happening.

We finished our Euro 2012 qualifying group disappointingly with the closer early matches being replaced by a series of thrashings in which we couldn't possibly claim we were unlucky - we were just outclassed. The group finished on a slightly more positive note though with the visit of Germany to Thorshavn for the final game of the group. They had already qualified and we were of course well out of it so it was in some senses a meaningless match, but one which gave us some hope for the future. We lost, of course, but having conceded 4 at home to Switzerland, we went down just 0-1 against the Germans as our defence returned to its more solid style. Sure we didn't score a goal, but we have to take all the positives we can get.

Come the New Year there was disappointment, but no surprise as we dropped back 4 places to 148th in the FIFA rankings. Having lost all our games in 2011 it was inevitable that we would drop down the rankings, but at least we are still 3 places higher than when I took over. Admittedly that says more about the standard of the teams around our ranking than about us since we won just 1 match in that time and lost 7, but that is what represents success were we are. With Ross County I am so used to winning now - we have moulded an excellent team of young (and some more experienced) Scots and have won 5 out of the last 6 SPL titles and competed well with Inter in the Champions League Final. With the Faroes though it is all different and it can be hard sometimes to switch from one mentality to the other - if Ross County lose a game we are disappointed and feel we should do better, if the Faroes lose a game then it's just what everyone expects, if we win a game then it is cause for great celebration. I have to admit I have been really frustrated managing the Faroes at times - that feeling of helplessness that whatever you do the players just can't compete with the opposition. At times I considered giving it up, admitting defeat, admitting that the Scottish press were right, but no - I have never walked away from a challenge and nor will I now. To that end, I decided against taking up the offer from the Swedish FA to lead their nation into the World Cup 2014 qualifiers.

Speaking of the World Cup qualifiers, the groups have now been drawn for those qualifiers and see us this time in a 6 team group. We will again have to pit our wits against Germany who are the highest ranking team in our group. Again we will be favourites to finish bottom of the group and to lose every game, but we'll do our best. A number of key players have retired this summer which is disappointing, but with new players will perhaps come a new dawn for Faroese international football. The full listing of qualifying groups is below, together with the rankings for all teams.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">World Cup 2014 Qualification Pos Inf Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag G.D. Pts 1st (97) FYR of Macedonia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2nd (148) Faroe Islands 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3rd (56) Finland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4th (15) Germany 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5th (96) Lithuania 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6th (55) Russia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pos Inf Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag G.D. Pts 1st (99) Albania 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2nd (58) Bulgaria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3rd (137) Latvia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4th (44) Portugal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5th (190) San Marino 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6th (5) Ukraine 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pos Inf Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag G.D. Pts 1st (109) Estonia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2nd (19) Greece 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3rd (186) Liechtenstein 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4th (65) Romania 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5th (63) Turkey 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6th (62) Wales 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pos Inf Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag G.D. Pts 1st (193) Andorra 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2nd (16) Czech Republic 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3rd (31) Denmark 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4th (102) Georgia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5th (82) Hungary 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6th (107) Kazakhstan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pos Inf Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag G.D. Pts 1st (20) Italy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2nd (173) Malta 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3rd (144) Moldova 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4th (54) Scotland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5th (26) Sweden 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6th (89) Switzerland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pos Inf Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag G.D. Pts 1st (49) Austria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2nd (17) Croatia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3rd (117) Cyprus 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4th (32) England 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5th (161) Luxembourg 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6th (61) Slovakia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pos Inf Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag G.D. Pts 1st (127) Armenia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2nd (124) Azerbaijan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3rd (41) Belgium 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4th (59) Holland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5th (83) Israel 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6th (66) Poland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pos Inf Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag G.D. Pts 1st (111) Bosnia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2nd (2) France 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3rd (71) Iceland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4th (21) Ireland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5th (13) Norway 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pos Inf Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag G.D. Pts 1st (72) Belarus 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2nd (90) N.Ireland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3rd (36) Serbia & Mont. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4th (69) Slovenia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5th (46) Spain 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 </pre>

And if you are wondering who fills the rest of the top spots in the rankings, the current FIFA top 20 are as follow:

1. Brazil
2. France (World Cup holders)
3. Nigeria
4. South Korea
5. Ukraine
6. Argentina
7. Cameroon
8. United States
9. Senegal
10. Colombia
11. Egypt
12. Australia
13. Norway
14. South Africa
15. Germany
16. Czech Republic
17. Croatia
18. Algeria
19. Greece
20. Italy (Euro 2012 winners)

We kick off at home to Germany on Saturday 8th September, followed by a trip to Macedonia 4 days later.

[This message was edited by glamdring on 20 March 2004 at 12:51.]

[This message was edited by glamdring on 20 March 2004 at 12:52.]

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International roundup from The Dingwall Times on Saturday 8th September 2012

Plucky Faroes hold Germans as Malta stun Scotland

Angus McIntyre reports:

A gritty and determined performance from the Faroe Islands in Thorshavn today saw the plucky underdogs gain an historic draw against hot favourites Germany in the World Cup 2014 qualfying group 1. The Germans created more of the chances and controlled the play for large sections of the game, but the Faroes looked much more lively than in recent years, playing with an adventurous 4-3-3 formation against Germany's attacking 4-4-2. Dirk Kellner gave Germany the lead after 16 minutes, but resolute defending from the Faroes kept the score to 0-1 until, on 82 minutes, debutant Allan Andreasen got behind the German defence and finished neatly to give the Faroes a brilliant 1-1 draw. Ross County & Faroese manager Adam Eckersley was delighted by his team's performance and by the result as he hailed his debutant goalscorer and other new caps saying he hoped the team could push on from this result to win some games in the group.

FT: Faroe Islands 1-1 Germany

In Malta there was disaster for a lethargic Scotland side who created just 2 clear chances, one of which was put away by Kenny Miller late on, but in injury time at the end of the game, Malta broke upfield and Roderick Falzon scored a deserved equaliser for the home side.

There was great news for Ross County players - the back 4 for Scotland, as has been the case regularly of late was made up entirely of Ross County players with David Dunne and Kerr Dodds as full-backs and the versatile Alan Reid joining Nick James in the centre of defence. Perhaps of even more pleasure for Ross County manager Adam Eckersley were the debuts for 3 of his players as substitutes. John Rankin and Ross O'Donoghue at 29 must have thought their chances of international caps had passed, but both came on as second half substitutes along with centre-back John MacDonald who had had to withdraw from his first Scotland call-up through injury. The 25 year old centre-back has been somewhat of a late blossomer, but is now a stalwart at the heart of Ross County's defence.

FT: Malta 1-1 Scotland

Elsewhere, in the Faroe Islands' group, Lithuania stunned Finland by drawing 2-2 away from home whilst Russia kicked off their qualifying campaign with a 3-1 win over Macedonia to top the embrionic group table. In Scotland's group Italy hammered Moldova 5-1 while Switzerland and Sweden shared the points in a 2-2 draw.

Other results of note included England suffering a shock home defeat 0-1 to Austria, Wales held 1-1 by Turkey, Poland beat Holland 2-1 and Ireland went down by a goal to nil in Iceland.