August 28, 2013
Faroe Islands team for the Kazakhstan and Germany qualifiers
On Saturday, immediately after the cup final, Faroe Islands coach Lars Olsen announced his team for the qualifiers against Kazakhstan (away) on Friday 6 September and against Germany (home) on Tuesday 10 September:
Gunnar Nielsen, Motherwell (SCO)
Kristian Joensen, NSÍ Runavík
Hans Jørgensen, HB Tórshavn
Jónas Tór Næs, Valur (ICE)
Atli Gregersen, Víkingur
Rógvi Baldvinsson, Bryne BK (NOR)
Jóhan Troest Davidsen, HB Tórshavn
Erling Jacobsen, Víkingur
Viljormur Davidsen, Vejle Boldklub (DK)
Ári Mohr Jónsson, Silkeborg IF (DK)
Fróði Benjaminsen, HB Tórshavn
Súni Olsen, B36 Tórshavn
Heini Vatnsdal, HB Tórshavn
Hallur Hansson, AaB Ålborg (DK)
Christian R. Mouritsen, HB Tórshavn
Pól Jóhannus Justinussen, NSÍ Runavík
Leif Niclasen, EB/Streymur
Jóan Símun Edmundsson, Viking Stavangar (NOR)
Christian Lamhauge Holst, Silkeborg IF (DK)
Páll Klettskarð, KÍ Klaksvík
Forward Arnbjørn Hansen was on the original list, but had to withdraw as he pulled a hamstring in the cup final.
Winger Símun Samuelsen was also selected, but has since withdrawn because of a foot injury which will keep him sidelined for the rest of the season. To replace him, Olsen’s has chosen EB/Streymur’s Leif Niclasen who has been capped twice previously: as a defender in a friendly against Portugal in 2008 and in a forward role earlier this month in the friendly against Iceland.
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U21 team for the Germany match
Also the U21 team that plays at home against Germany on 6 September has been selected:
Teitur Matras Gestsson, HB Tórshavn
Hallgrím Hansen, ÍF Fuglafjørður
Bárður Hansen, Víkingur
Sonni Ragnar Nattestad, FC Midtjylland (DK)
Hørður Askham, B36 Tórshavn
Andras Brixen Vágsheyg, NSÍ Runavík
Pál Mohr Joensen, HB Tórshavn
Beinir Ellefsen, AB Argir
Leivur Joensen, ÍF Fuglafjørður
Rene Shaki Joensen, Brøndby IF (DK)
Bogi R. Petersen, ÍF Fuglafjørður
Rógvi Joensen, TB Tvøroyri
Eli Falkvard Nielsen, 07 Vestur
Ivan Joensen, KÍ Klaksvík
Jóhan Jacobsen, KÍ Klaksvík
Heðin Klakstein, KÍ Klaksvík
Ari Ó. Ellingsgaard, ÍF Fuglafjørður
Teitur W. Justinussen, TB Tvøroyri
Gilli Sørensen, B36 Tórshavn
Gunnar Zachariassen, EB/Streymur
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Símun Samuelsen out for the season
HB Tórshavn’s left winger/forward Símun Samuelsen will be sidelined for the rest of the season because of an Achilles tendon injury he got in training in the week.
Samuelsen has been bothered by a troublesome Achilles tendon for four years and will need extensive treatment if he intends to play football at the highest level in the future.
This, coupled with the absence of right back Jógvan Rói Davidsen, who is also out with an injury for the rest of the season, will weaken HB, but will it have any bearing in the title race where HB are seven points in front of ÍF Fuglafjørður?
On Saturday HB have a difficult match against B36 Tórshavn who have 1st choice goalkeeper and both central defenders suspended while ÍF have a tricky home-match against AB Argir. Several of ÍF’s most important players, Høgni Madsen, Jan Ellingsgaard, Øssur Dalbúð and Heri Nesá, have moved to Denmark (among other things to study), but they will all be flown home for the match on Saturday, and also in the future as long as ÍF think they are still in the title race and need the players.
August 20, 2013
Faroe Islands vs. Germany sold out in 36 hours
It took less than 36 hours for the tickets for the qualifier against Germany on 10 September to be sold out.
However, that doesn’t mean that it will be among the biggest crowds that will attend the match because due to renovations, the capacity at Tórsvøllur Stadium has been decreased from around 6,000 to 4,000 only.
As many tickets were reserved for sponsors and VIPs, and 600-700 for the German fans, only about 2,000 tickets were for sale according to the Football Association, so therefore several thousands disappointed Faroese football fans will be sitting at home on the match day.
600-700 is an unusually high number of tickets to give to the visiting team; more than 15%. Usually that number is up to 10%. So it’s a bit strange that the Germans have been given so many tickets.
And as tickets were sold at certain petrol stations only, no tickets were on sale in the islands of Sandoy, for example, as that particular petrol station doesn’t have a division there.
And it’s a shame that Tórsvøllur Stadium isn’t at the full capacity of 6,000 as it would easily have sold out. And as the renovation work a the south-end has come no way – except taking down the stand – the work could just as well have waited until after the Germany match.
August 17, 2013
TB Tvøroyri appoint Páll Guðlaugsson as new coach
After Bill Mcleod Jacobsen have been in a care-taker role for some weeks now after Hans Fróði Hansen was sacked, TB have finally appointed a new permanent coach who is Páll Guðlaugsson, former Faroese national coach, and for the last year and a half coach at KÍ Klaksvík, until the parting earlier in the summer.
Guðlaugsson’s job seems like a hopeless task as TB are sitting stuck four points below the relegation line after six defeats in a row. But would anything look more hopeless than the Faroe Islands facing Austria in the Faroes’ first ever competitive international in 1990? Well all know how that ended…
August 14, 2013
Friendly Match:
Iceland - Faroe Islands 1-0 (0-0)
1-0 65' Birkir Bjarnason
Faroe Islands lose another friendly against Iceland
Iceland dominated throughout the match and could easily have scored more than the lone goal midway through the second half had Gunnar Nielsen not made a string of incredible saves, and had the Icelandic forwards not missed a couple of sitters towards the end.
The Faroese efforts on goal were few; the best chance coming after 89 minutes where the ball fell to Pól Jóhannus Justinussen just outside the goal area, but the shot was blocked by the defenders. The only other decent Faroese opportunities were a long range effort from Jóan Símun Edmundsson early in the first half and later a header from the same man that was off target however.
The Icelandic goal came in the 65th minute after an attack down the right hand side through Jóhann Berg who played the ball diagonally into the penalty area to Eiður Smári Guðjónsson who squared it over to Birkir Bjarnason who scored from close range.
Iceland could have added to the scoring on 70 minutes when Jóhann Berg Guðmundsson got completely clear with Nielsen, but he fired embarrassingly high over the crossbar.
It was just embarrassing for Kolbeinn Sigþórsson in the dying moments, but nonchalant he chipped the ball over Nielsen and the crossbar from a clear position.
August 13, 2013
Víkingur’s Europa League referee banned for life
The Armenian referee in the first round’s 2nd leg Europa League match against Inter Turku has been banned for life by the Armenian football association, as has one of the assistant referees, for match fixing in that Europa League match.
Both of them had made bets on the match that both teams were going to score. As neither team had score after 77 minutes, the referee was getting worried and decided to award Víkingur a penalty – which always looked suspicious on video. So far so good for him, but he still needed Inter Turku to score, and a couple of minutes later he rewarded Inter Turku a penalty as well – another suspicious looking one. Mission completed, the referee thought, but he had just forgotten to figure into the equation that the penalty was missed!
So no money for the referee and his assistant!
Later it was revealed that suspicious betting patterns on this match had been detected, and after an investigation it was revealed that the referees had indeed made bets on the game and were found guilty of match fixing. And banned for life.
Former Faroese FIFA referee Lassin Isaksen, now chairman of the referee committee of the Football Association, explained in the radio how referees are often persuaded into match fixing by Mafia methods. He didn’t refer to this particular match, but how it’s often done in general.
Often the referee would be approached by criminals and just offer him a Smartphone or a tablet for free – with no strings attached. Finally, the referee might accept the gift.
However, the criminal would then later approach the referee again, now reminding him on the gift he got: "Now you owe us!"
If the referee would now refuse to cooperate – in a football match – then they will use the old Mafia method: "Well, if you want the well-being of your family, then…"
That’s how referees are getting into the clutches of criminals.
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Suni Olsen replaced by Karl Løkin for Iceland-friendly
Another withdrawal has been made in the Faroese team facing Iceland in the friendly match on Wednesday; midfielder Súni Olsen, who is nursing an injury, has been replaced by Karl Løkin of NSÍ Runavík.
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Viljormur Davidsen joins Danish 2nd tier club Vejle Boldclub?
Left back Viljormur Davidsen who made his competitive debut for the Faroe Islands in the world cup qualifier against Sweden in June, has switched from Fredericia to Vejle Boldklub, both in the Danish 2nd tier.
06 August, 2013
Símun Samuelsen replaced by Kaj Leo í Bartalsstovu
Winger Símun Samuelsen with 44 caps for the Faroe Islands has withdrawn from the friendly match against Iceland on Wednesday 14 August because of injury, and has been replaced by Víkingur’s Kaj Leo í Bartalsstovu who has one cap for the Faroes.
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TB Tvøroyri vs. Sheffield F.C. cancelled
The friendly match between the oldest club in the Faroe Islands, TB Tvøroyri, and the oldest club in the world, Sheffield F.C., that had been scheduled for the summer, has been cancelled.
03 August, 2013
Faroese U21 team for the Ireland qualifier has been selected
Faroese U-21 coaches Heðin Askham and Bill McLeod Jacobsen have selected an 18-man squad for the European qualifier against Ireland at home on 14 August:
Goalkeepers:
Kristian Joensen, NSÍ Runavík
Hallgrím G. Hansen, ÍF Fuglafjørður
Defenders:
Bárður Hansen, Víkingur
Rene S. Joensen, Brøndby IF (DK)
Sonni Ragnar Nattestad, FC Midtjylland (DK)
Hørður Askham, B36 Tórshavn
Andras Brixen Vágsheyg, NSÍ Runavík
Pál Mohr Joensen, HB Tórshavn
Beinir Ellefsen, AB Argir
Midfielders:
Bogi R. Petersen, ÍF Fuglafjørður
Rógvi Joensen, TB Tvøroyri
Eli Falkvard Nielsen, 07 Vestur
Ivan Joensen, KÍ Klaksvík
Forwards:
Árni Frederiksberg, NSÍ Runavík
Gilli Sørensen, B36 Tórshavn
Ari Ó. Ellingsgaard, ÍF Fuglafjørður
Gunnar Zachariasen, EB/Streymur
Poul Ingason, TB Tvøroyri
Two more players will possibly be added to the squad later.