Post by cjeagle on Jun 15, 2015 0:45:07 GMT 8
Tiny Faroe Islands with a population of approximately 50000 just beat 2004 European Champions Greece 2-1 yesterday winning both games against that team in their group. They are ranked higher than the Philippines at 102nd and will probably rise even higher with this victory. Quite a climb.
www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jun/14/faroes-humiliate-greece-double-euro-2016-qualifying
Faroe Islands claimed a remarkable double over the 2004 European champions, Greece, in qualifying for the 2016 tournament by claiming a 2-1 home victory.
Greece lost 1-0 at home to the tiny nation in November, leading to their coach, Claudio Ranieri, being replaced by Sergio Markarian.
After that victory the Faroes coach, Lars Olsen, called it a result that would “echo around the world” and he can scarcely have imagined repeating the feat seven months later.
The Faroes have never qualified for a major tournament but climbed above Finland into fourth place in the six-team Group F, five points behind Hungary in third place. The top two teams are guaranteed a place in France while most third-place teams will have to go through a play-off.
Hallur Hansson opened the scoring for the Faroes, converting a cross from Solvi Vatnhamar, almost immediately after Kostas Mitroglou had hit the woodwork for Greece on 32 minutes.
In the second half Vasilis Torosidis had a goal disallowed as Greece pressed for an equaliser. With 20 minutes left they went two down after Brandur Olsen scored from another Vatnhamar assist.
With six minutes to play Sokratis Papastathopoulos headed in from a corner to give Greece hope of avoiding another embarrassment but it was not enough.
The Greeks are still looking for their first win in qualifying and remain bottom of Group F.
www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jun/14/faroes-humiliate-greece-double-euro-2016-qualifying
Faroe Islands claimed a remarkable double over the 2004 European champions, Greece, in qualifying for the 2016 tournament by claiming a 2-1 home victory.
Greece lost 1-0 at home to the tiny nation in November, leading to their coach, Claudio Ranieri, being replaced by Sergio Markarian.
After that victory the Faroes coach, Lars Olsen, called it a result that would “echo around the world” and he can scarcely have imagined repeating the feat seven months later.
The Faroes have never qualified for a major tournament but climbed above Finland into fourth place in the six-team Group F, five points behind Hungary in third place. The top two teams are guaranteed a place in France while most third-place teams will have to go through a play-off.
Hallur Hansson opened the scoring for the Faroes, converting a cross from Solvi Vatnhamar, almost immediately after Kostas Mitroglou had hit the woodwork for Greece on 32 minutes.
In the second half Vasilis Torosidis had a goal disallowed as Greece pressed for an equaliser. With 20 minutes left they went two down after Brandur Olsen scored from another Vatnhamar assist.
With six minutes to play Sokratis Papastathopoulos headed in from a corner to give Greece hope of avoiding another embarrassment but it was not enough.
The Greeks are still looking for their first win in qualifying and remain bottom of Group F.