Faroe Islands national football team

Faroe Islands
Nickname(s) Landsliðið (National Team)
Association Fótbóltssamband Føroya
Confederation UEFA (Europe)
Head coach Lars Olsen
Captain Fróði Benjaminsen
Most caps Fróði Benjaminsen (86)
Top scorer Rógvi Jacobsen (10)
Home stadium Tórsvøllur
FIFA code FRO
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 94 Increase 2 (4 February 2016)
Highest 74 (July 2015)
Lowest 198 (September 2008)
Elo ranking
Current 158 (9 September 2015)
Highest 144 (1 May 1991)
Lowest 173 (4 June 2008, 10 September 2008)
First international
 Iceland 1–0 Faroe Islands 
(Akranes, Iceland; 24 August 1988)
Biggest win
 Faroe Islands 3–0 San Marino 
(Toftir, Faroe Islands; 25 May 1995)
 Gibraltar 1–4 Faroe Islands 
(Gibraltar; 1 March 2014)
Biggest defeat
 Yugoslavia 7–0 Faroe Islands 
(Belgrade, Yugoslavia; 16 May 1991)
 Romania 7–0 Faroe Islands 
(Bucharest, Romania; 6 May 1992)
 Faroe Islands 0–7 Norway 
(Toftir, Faroe Islands; 11 August 1993)
 Faroe Islands 1–8 Yugoslavia 
(Toftir, Faroe Islands; 6 October 1996)
Faroe Islands national football team in March 2013
Faroe Islands playing against Italy on 2 September 2011. The match ended in a 1–0 defeat.

The Faroe Islands national football team (Faroese: Føroyska fótbóltsmanslandsliðið, Danish: Færøernes fodboldlandshold) represents the Faroe Islands in association football and is controlled by the Faroe Islands Football Association. The Faroe Islands became a member of FIFA in 1988 and UEFA in 1990 and is the fourth smallest UEFA country by population. Faroe Islands have never advanced to the finals of the FIFA World Cup or UEFA European Championship. They took part in the Island Games in 1989 and 1991 and won both tournaments. They also took part in the Nordic Football Championship for the first time in 2000–01, the last time the competition was played. In the Faroe Islands the team is known as the landsliðið. Home matches are played at the Tórsvøllur or Svangaskarð.

History

The Faroe Islands gained membership of FIFA on 2 July 1988 and joined UEFA on 18 April 1990.[1]

Although the national team has been in existence since 1930, neither FIFA nor the Faroese FA considers matches before 1988 as official.[2] The first official victory was a 1–0 win, in a friendly against Canada in 1989. Faroe Islands pulled one of the biggest upsets in footballing history when they beat Austria 1–0 in their first ever competitive international on 12 September 1990.[3] The game, a Euro 92 qualifier, was played in Landskrona, Sweden, because there were no grass pitches on the Islands. Their only other point of the campaign was from a draw against Northern Ireland. During both the Euro 2000 qualifiers and Euro 2004 qualifiers, they also held Scotland to a draw at home (they also drew with Lithuania and Bosnia in 2000, while the draw against the Scots was their only point of the 2004 campaign). The nation's only other wins in European Championship qualifying were in the 1996 tournament, with two wins against San Marino until they won against Estonia in UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying on 7 June 2011.

The team has participated in FIFA World Cup qualifying since 1992. They finished the qualification rounds for the 1994 finals without scoring any points and with a 1–38 goal difference from 10 matches. In qualification for the 1998 finals, they improved their record with two victories against Malta, beating them 2–1 in both matches. Their most successful World Cup qualifying so far was the 2002 finals, where they held Slovenia to a 2–2 draw at home and beat Luxembourg twice, 2–0 on road and 1–0 at home. The 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying was, however, not a success for the team and they only earned a single point from a 2–2 away draw against Cyprus.

On 2 June 2007, in a Euro 2008 qualifier against Italy, the Faroes surprisingly took the sluggish world champions to the limit after netting a 77th-minute goal in a 2–1 loss. Overall, their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign was disastrous, as they conceded 43 goals and scored only four (all of which were scored by the same player, Rógvi Jacobsen, and half of which were against Italy) en route to losing all twelve matches.

During the summer of 2008 the Faroese side played two friendlies. First they lost 4–3 to Estonia on 1 June 2008, and this match has been credited as the only official international in which the Faroe Islands scored 3 goals and lost. Later they lost 5–0 to Portugal.

The Faroe Islands began the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying round with a 2–0 loss to Serbia. However, in the match against Romania a few days later, the Faroes' defence held out for almost an hour, but the match ended with a 1–0 defeat. Their next match, against Austria on 11 October 2008, ended 1–1, giving the Faroe Islands their first qualifying point for four years.

After announcing the squad to the matches against Austria and Lithuania, coach Jógvan Martin Olsen announced that he was to step down after three years in charge.

On 22 March 2009 the Faroe Islands beat Iceland 2–1 in a friendly match, their first victory over Iceland.

On 5 April 2009 former Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr was appointed new manager of the team.[4] On 9 September 2009, Faroe Islands recorded their first competitive win since the 2002 World Cup qualification stage after beating Lithuania 2–1.[5]

On 11 August 2010, the Faroe Islands came close to an away win in Estonia during the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifiers. The Faroes took the lead in the first half with a goal by Jóan Símun Edmundsson. The score was still 1–0 after 90 minutes played, but Estonia scored twice during stoppage time and Faroe Islands lost the match 2–1.

Two months later, on 12 October 2010, the Faroe Islands drew 1–1 with the higher ranked Northern Ireland at the Svangaskarð Stadion, Toftir. Striker Christian Holst scored for the Faroes in the 60th minute, before Kyle Lafferty equalised 16 minutes later for the visiting side, earning a point for both teams.

On 7 June 2011, the Faroe Islands defeated Estonia 2–0 at Svangaskarð. Captain Fróði Benjaminsen opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 43rd minute, before Arnbjørn Hansen then secured the win with a follow up after another Benjaminsen penalty. It was the Faroe Islands' first UEFA Euro qualification win since 1995.

Faroe Islands were drawn against Kerr's former employers, the Republic of Ireland, in Group C for the 2014 World Cup Qualifying. The other teams in the group are Germany, Sweden, Austria, and Kazakhstan.

On 26 October 2011 Brian Kerr stepped down as coach of the Faroe Islands national team, after the Faroe Islands Football Association (FSF) announced that "it was not possible to agree a new contract with Brian Kerr".[6]

On 8 November 2011 the Faroese Football Association announced that an agreement had been reached with the 50-year-old former Denmark captain and European Champion from 1992, Lars Olsen, to become the next coach of the Faroe Islands. Lars Olsen is the third Dane to coach the Faroe Islands after Allan Simonsen and Henrik Larsen.[7]

On 1 March 2014, for the first time in the Faroe Islands' history, they scored four goals in a match. In what was only Gibraltar's second match as an official UEFA member, the hosts lost their first ever home match by the score of 1–4. Faroe midfielder Christian Holst scored twice.

On 14 November 2014, the Faroe Islands caused a major international football upset by defeating hosts Greece 0–1 during the Euro 2016 qualifiers.[8][9] The Guardian reckoned the win as the biggest upset ever in terms of FIFA Rankings; Greece were ranked 18th, the Faroe Islands 187th, a 169-place difference.[10] On June 13, 2015, the Faroe Islands stunned the world yet again by defeating the same Greek side in their second meeting of the Euro 2016 qualifying tournament by a score of 2-1.[11][12] The team eventually finished 5th of their group with 6 points with Greece being the last and never conceding over three goals in a match.

Achievements

1989, 1991

World Cup record

FIFA World Cup record FIFA World Cup Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
Uruguay 1930 Did Not Enter
Italy 1934
France 1938
Brazil 1950
Switzerland 1954
Sweden 1958
Chile 1962
England 1966
Mexico 1970
West Germany 1974
Argentina 1978
Spain 1982
Mexico 1986
Italy 1990
United States 1994 Did Not Qualify 10 0 0 10 1 38
France 1998 10 2 0 8 10 31
South KoreaJapan 2002 10 2 1 7 6 23
Germany 2006 10 0 1 9 4 27
South Africa 2010 10 1 1 8 5 20
Brazil 2014 10 0 1 9 4 29
Russia 2018 To be determined
Qatar 2022
Total 0/20 60 5 4 51 30 168

European Championship record

UEFA European Championship record
Year Round Position GP W D* L GS GA
France 1960 Did Not Enter
Spain 1964
Italy 1968
Belgium 1972
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 1976
Italy 1980
France 1984
West Germany 1988
Sweden 1992 Did Not Qualify
England 1996
Belgium Netherlands 2000
Portugal 2004
Austria Switzerland 2008
Poland Ukraine 2012
France 2016
Total 0/15

Coaches

Lars Olsen, manager of the Faroe Islands national football team.
Manager Note Year(s)
Iceland Páll Guðlaugsson 1988–93
Faroe Islands Johan Nielsen & Jógvan Norðbúð caretakers 1993
Denmark Allan Simonsen 1994–2001
Denmark Henrik Larsen 2002–05
Faroe Islands Jógvan Martin Olsen 2006–08
Faroe Islands Heðin Askham caretaker 2009
Republic of Ireland Brian Kerr 2009–11
Denmark Lars Olsen 2011–

Team captains

Records

Source: [13]

Most capped players

Rank Player Caps
1 Fróði Benjaminsen 86
2 Óli Johannesen 83
3 Jákup Mikkelsen 73
4 Jens Martin Knudsen 65
5 Julian Johnsson 62
6 Jákup á Borg 61
7 Hjalgrím Elttør 60
8 John Petersen 57
9 Allan Mørkøre 54
10 Rógvi Jacobsen 53
Súni Olsen
12 Øssur Hansen 51
13 Christian Høgni Jacobsen 50
Christian Holst

Top goalscorers

Rank Player Goals
1 Rógvi Jacobsen 10
2 Todi Jónsson 9
3 Uni Arge 8
John Petersen
4 Fróði Benjaminsen 6
Christian Holst
5 Jan Allan Müller 4
Julian Johnsson
Hallur Hansson
Jóan Símun Edmundsson
6 Arnbjørn Hansen 3
Kurt Mørkøre
Jens Kristian Hansen
Súni Olsen

Current squad

The following players were called up for the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying matches against Hungary on 8 October and Romania on 11 October 2015.[14]
Caps and goals as of 11 October 2015 after the game against Romania.

0#0 Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Gunnar Nielsen (1986-10-07) 7 October 1986 31 0 Iceland FH
1GK Tórður Thomsen (1986-07-11) 11 July 1986 2 0 Faroe Islands B36
1GK Teitur Gestsson (1992-08-19) 19 August 1992 1 0 Faroe Islands HB
2DF Jónas Þór Næs (1986-12-27) 27 December 1986 45 0 Faroe Islands B36
2DF Atli Gregersen (1982-06-15) 15 June 1982 30 0 Faroe Islands Víkingur
2DF Rógvi Baldvinsson (1989-12-06) 6 December 1989 24 2 Denmark Fredericia
2DF Viljormur Davidsen (1991-07-19) 19 July 1991 13 0 Denmark Vejle
2DF Odmar Færø (1989-11-01) 1 November 1989 12 0 Faroe Islands B36
2DF Sonni Nattestad (1994-08-05) 5 August 1994 12 0 Iceland FH
2DF Gilli Rólantsson (1992-08-11) 11 August 1992 10 0 Denmark AaB
3MF Fróði Benjaminsen (Captain) (1977-12-14) 14 December 1977 86 6 Faroe Islands HB
3MF Christian Holst (1981-12-25) 25 December 1981 51 6 Denmark Fremad Amager
3MF Pól Jóhannus Justinussen (1989-01-13) 13 January 1989 23 0 Faroe Islands NSÍ
3MF Hallur Hansson (1992-07-08) 8 July 1992 21 4 Denmark Vendsyssel
3MF Brandur Hendriksson (1995-12-15) 15 December 1995 8 1 Denmark Copenhagen
3MF Sølvi Vatnhamar (1990-02-13) 13 February 1990 9 0 Faroe Islands Víkingur
3MF Kaj Leo í Bartalsstovu (1991-06-23) 23 June 1991 7 0 Romania Dinamo București
3MF René Joensen (1993-02-08) 8 February 1993 5 0 Denmark Vendsyssel
3MF Róaldur Jakobsen (1991-01-23) 23 January 1991 3 1 Faroe Islands B36
3MF Árni Frederiksberg (1992-06-13) 13 June 1992 1 0 Faroe Islands NSÍ
4FW Jóan Símun Edmundsson (1991-07-26) 26 July 1991 36 4 Denmark OB
4FW Andreas Olsen (1987-10-09) 9 October 1987 8 1 Faroe Islands Víkingur
4FW Klæmint Olsen (1990-07-17) 17 July 1990 7 0 Faroe Islands NSÍ

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up within the last 12 months.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
DF Erling Jacobsen (1990-02-13) 13 February 1990 4 0 Faroe Islands Víkingur v.  Finland, 7 September 2015
DF Hanus Jacobsen (1985-05-25) 25 May 1985 0 0 Faroe Islands Víkingur v.  Northern Ireland, 4 September 2015 PRE
DF Jóhan Troest Davidsen (1988-01-31) 31 January 1988 31 0 Faroe Islands HB v.  Greece, 13 June 2015
DF Einar Hansen (1988-04-02) 2 April 1988 12 0 Faroe Islands NSÍ v.  Greece, 13 June 2015
DF Bárður Hansen (1992-03-13) 13 March 1992 1 0 Faroe Islands Víkingur v.  Greece, 13 June 2015
DF Høgni Eysturoy (1990-07-14) 14 July 1990 0 0 Faroe Islands B36 v.  Greece, 13 June 2015
FW Finnur Justinussen (1989-03-30) 30 March 1989 2 0 Faroe Islands Víkingur v.  Finland, 7 September 2015
FW Atli Gregersen (1982-06-15) 15 June 1982 28 0 Faroe Islands Víkingur v.  Northern Ireland, 4 September 2015 PRE
FW Arnbjørn Hansen (1986-02-27) 27 February 1986 18 3 Faroe Islands HB v.  Romania, 29 March 2015

Recent results and upcoming fixtures

Competition Date Opponents H / A Result Scorers Referee Attendance
UEFA Euro 2016 qualification 12 November 2014  Greece A 1–0 Jóan Símun Edmundsson Nicola Rizzoli
UEFA Euro 2016 qualification 29 March 2015  Romania A 0-1 Artur Dias
UEFA Euro 2016 qualification 13 June 2015  Greece H 2–1 H. Hansson, B. Olsen Tom Harald Hagen 5,000
UEFA Euro 2016 qualification 4 September 2015  Northern Ireland H 1-3 Jóan Símun Edmundsson Felix Zwayer 5,000
UEFA Euro 2016 qualification 7 September 2015  Finland A 0-1 Marcin Borski
UEFA Euro 2016 qualification 8 October 2015  Hungary A 1-2 Róaldur Jacobsen Robert Schörgenhofer 38,000
UEFA Euro 2016 qualification 11 October 2015  Romania H 0-3 Ivan Kružliak 5,000
Friendly 28 March 2016  Liechtenstein N

UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification Northern Ireland Romania Hungary Finland Faroe Islands Greece
1  Northern Ireland 10 6 3 1 16 8 +8 21 Qualify for final tournament 0–0 1–1 2–1 2–0 3–1
2  Romania 10 5 5 0 11 2 +9 20 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–0 0–0
3  Hungary 10 4 4 2 11 9 +2 16 Advance to Play-offs 1–2 0–0 1–0 2–1 0–0
4  Finland 10 3 3 4 9 10 1 12 1–1 0–2 0–1 1–0 1–1
5  Faroe Islands 10 2 0 8 6 17 11 6 1–3 0–3 0–1 1–3 2–1
6  Greece 10 1 3 6 7 14 7 6 0–2 0–1 4–3 0–1 0–1
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers


2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Portugal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification to 2018 FIFA World Cup 10 Oct '17 25 Mar '17 31 Aug '17 13 Nov '16 7 Oct '16
1   Switzerland 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Possible second round[lower-alpha 1] 6 Sep '16 7 Oct '17 13 Nov '16 25 Mar '17 31 Aug '17
1  Hungary 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 Sep '17 7 Oct '16 10 Oct '17 31 Aug '17 13 Nov '16
1  Faroe Islands 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 Oct '16 9 Jun '17 6 Sep '16 7 Oct '17 3 Sep '17
1  Latvia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 Jun '17 3 Sep '17 10 Oct '16 7 Oct '16 10 Oct '17
1  Andorra 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 Oct '17 10 Oct '16 9 Jun '17 25 Mar '17 6 Sep '16
First match(es) will be played on 6 September 2016. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. The eight best runners-up across all groups will advance to the second round (play-offs). The ninth-ranked runners-up will be eliminated.

Historical kits

Home

2006–2007
2008–2009
2010–2011
2011–2012
2012–2014
2014–present

Away

2006–2007
2008–2009
2010–2011
2011–2012
2012–2014
2014–present

See also

References

External links

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