May 27, 2013
Several changes to the national team as Lars Olsen selects a 22-man squad for the qualifiers against Ireland and Sweden.
As both central midfielders, Fróði Benjaminsen and Hallur Hansson, are suspended for the first qualifier against Ireland, at least two changes had to be made, while others have been made because of injuries, and Hjalgrím Elttør has withdrawn because of exams.
The 22-man squad looks like this:
Goalkeepers
Gunnar Nielsen, Silkeborg IF (DK)
Hans Jørgensen, HB Tórshavn
Teitur M. Gestsson, HB Tórshavn
Defenders
Rógvi Baldvinsson, Bryne BK (NOR)
Atli Gregersen, Víkingur
Jóhan Troest Davidsen, HB Tórshavn
Viljormur Davidsen, FC Fredericia (DK)
Pól Jóhannus Jústinussen, NSÍ Runavík
Ari Mohr Jónsson, Silkeborg IF (DK)
Jónas Tór Næs, Valur (ICE)
Jónhard Frederiksberg, NSÍ Runavík
Midfielders
Fróði Benjaminsen, HB Tórshavn
Hallur Hansson, AaB Ålborg (DK)
Heini Vatnsdal, HB Tórshavn
Atli Danielsen, KÍ Klaksvík
Súni Olsen, B36 Tórshavn
Christian Lamhauge Holst, Silkeborg IF (DK)
Hans Pauli Samuelsen, EB/Streymur
Forwards
Christian R. Mouritsen, HB Tórshavn
Símun Samuelsen, HB Tórshavn
Jóan Símun Edmundsson, Viking Stavanger (NOR)
Páll Klettskarð, KÍ Klaksvík
Gunnar Nielsen is clear first choice goalkeeper, the coach has made clear, but instead of having Christian Joensen of NSÍ Runavík, who has been second choice at times, sitting on the bench, the coach has opted to instead give him some experience in the U21 team this time.
A new selection in the senior team, but not unexpected, is midfielder Heini Vatnsdal who has reigned supreme in HB’s midfield this season. Vatnsdal has until this season played for FC Suðuroy and hasn’t caught so many headlines while playing for a bottom team, although the well-informed knew about his potential, but since he moved to HB this season, his talent has been evident for all to see. He also demonstrated his abilities for the U21 team last summer when he played superbly in a 1-1 draw with Denmark. Vatnsdal is likely to fight it out with KÍ Klaksvík’s Atli Danielsen for one of the midfield positions, as Danielsen, who has been capped 41 times for the Faroes, for the first time has been selected under Lars Olsen. Súni Olsen, who has been absent in previous qualifiers because of fitness problems, has been recalled and is likely to be in the starting position in midfield.
Also defender Johan Troest Davidsen has been selected for the first time under Olsen, and will battle it out with Atli Gregersen for who shall replace injured Odmar Færø in central defence, although Troest Davidsen could also take up the left back position.
Jónhard Frederiksberg, who hasn’t been capped for several years, was a surprise inclusion in the team, but he has first and foremost been selected as cover for Jónas Tór Næs, should he not recover in time from a toe-injury.
It’s also a while since forward Christian R. Mouritsen was in the team, but his good performances for HB this season have persuaded the coach to give him the nod again.
Left back Ari Mohr Jónsson, who just recently made his debut for Silkeborg in the Danish Superliga, has never been capped before.
And then there has also been room for league top scorer Páll Klettskarð who played his first match for the seniors against Thailand in February. As Arnbjørn Hansen is out injured, Klettskarð was a natural selection.
The first match is on Friday 7 June against ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin and the second is against Sweden on Tuesday 11 June at the Friends Arena in Stockholm.
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New-Look U21 Team
Also the U21 team, who faces Rumania on 7 June at home and Montenegro away on 11 June, has been selected.
As many of the previous U21 players has become too old now, there has been a major shift in the personnel:
Goalkeeper(s)
Kristian Joensen, NSÍ Runavík
(Another will be added later)
Defenders
Beinur Ellefsen, AB Argir
Hørður Askham, B36 Tórshavn
Rógvi E. Nielsen, EB/Streymur
Sonni Ragnar Nattestad, FC Midtjylland (DK)
Odmar Marstein, KÍ Klaksvík
Gunnar Christiansen, KÍ Klaksvík
Bárður Hansen, Víkingur
Midfielders
Eli F. Nielsen, 07 Vestur
René S. Joensen, Brøndby IF (DK)
Bogi Reinert Petersen, ÍF Fuglafjørður
Ivan Joensen, KÍ Klaksvík
Rógvi Joensen, TB Tvøroyri
Heðin Hansen, Víkingur
Framherjar
Gilli Sørensen, B36 Tórshavn
Gunnar Zachariasen, EB/Streymur
Ári Ellingsgaard, ÍF Fuglafjørður
Árni Frederiksberg, NSÍ Runavík
Pól Ingasson, TB Tvøroyri
May 16, 2013
Karl Løkin quits at his new Icelandic club
Midfielder Karl Løkin who went from NSÍ Runavík to Iceland’s Víkingur Ólafsvík a fortnight ago has already decided to quit again, stating that it was just not the right place for him.
He never signed the contract, but at his playing licence is now in Iceland, he cannot return to the Faroese competition before the transfer window reopens in mid-summer.
He never signed the contract, but at his playing licence is now in Iceland, he cannot return to the Faroese competition before the transfer window reopens in mid-summer.
If he returns to the Faroes, then he’ll rejoin NSÍ, but he wasn’t sure about the whole situation at the moment.
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Another Faroese debut in the Danish Superliga
18-year old Ari Mohr Jónsson made his debut in the Danish top division, the Superliga, for Silkeborg IF last Monday in the match against AC Horsens who won 2-0, which means that Silkeborg will be relegated to the 2nd tier.
Jónsson, who is a left back, came off the bench with half an hour remaining and apparently impressed as he was in the starting line-up today, when Silkeborg drew 1-1 with FC Midtjylland in the penultimate round of the Danish top league.
Silkeborg’s goalkeeper is Faroe Islands no. 1, Gunnar Nielsen, who just recently joined Silkeborg to replace their injured goalkeeper. Nielsen’s contract runt to the end of the season (one match remaining).
Also Christian Lamhauge Holst plays for Silkeborg, but has spent a lot of time on the bench this season.
May 10, 2013
National coach Lars Olsen's contract extended to 2015
The Faroese Football Association announced today that they have extended the contract with national coach Lars Olsen so that it runs to the end of 2015.
The current contract was set to expire at the end of this year, but has now been extended to the end of 2015.
May 06, 2013
Draw for the semi-finals of the cup competition
Last year’s finalists, Víkingur and EB/Streymur, avoided each other when the draw for the semi-finals of the cup competition was made on Monday evening.
Cup holders Víkingur were paired with NSÍ Runavík while EB/Streymur were drawn against KÍ Klaksvík.
Semi-finals:
1st leg – Wednesday 29 May:
KÍ Klaksvík – EB/Streymur
Víkingur – NSÍ Runavík
2nd leg – Wednesday 07 August:
EB/Streymur – KÍ Klaksvík
NSÍ Runavík - Víkingur
The final will be played on Tórsvøllur in Tórshavn on 24 August.
May 03, 2013
Midfielder Karl Løkin to Icelandic club Víkingur Ólafsvík
22-year old NSÍ Runavík midfielder Karl Løkin has signed a one-year contract with Icelandic top division club Víkingur from Ólafsvík.
Løkin has played for all the Faroese youth national teams and has been noted for one game for the senior team; the friendly against Thailand’s U23 team in February, which the Football Association therefore apparently counts as an official Faroe Islands match.
The Icelandic league commences on Sunday and Víkingur take on Fram Reykjavík.