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Scotland v Faroe Islands

European Qualifiers for FIFA World Cup 2022 Hampden Park, Glasgow Wednesday 31st March, 2021 | KO 7.45pm

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SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

Scottish FA<br />

Hampden Park<br />

Glasgow<br />

G42 9AY<br />

0141 616 6000<br />

Scottish FA Online:<br />

e. info@scottishfa.co.uk<br />

w. www.scottishfa.co.uk<br />

Twitter. @<strong>Scotland</strong>NT<br />

Facebook.com/<br />

scotlandnationalteam<br />

OFFICE BEARERS:<br />

President<br />

Rod Petrie<br />

Chief executive<br />

Ian Maxwell<br />

Vice-president<br />

Mike Mulraney<br />

Programme produced on<br />

behalf of the Scottish FA by<br />

Ignition Sports Media<br />

www.ignitionsportsmedia.com<br />

Production: David Middleton<br />

Photography:<br />

SNS Pix, PA Images<br />

Commissioning Editor:<br />

Ronnie Esplin<br />

Managing Editor:<br />

Ross MacDonald-Allan<br />

Please note that the views<br />

expressed in this programme<br />

do not necessarily reflect those<br />

of the Scottish FA.<br />

The Scottish Football Association<br />

Limited is a private company<br />

limited by guarantee, registered<br />

in <strong>Scotland</strong>, with its registered<br />

office at Hampden Park, Glasgow<br />

G42 9AY and company number<br />

SC005453.<br />

IN THIS ISSUE...<br />

04 MANAGER’S WELCOME<br />

Steve Clarke looks forward to<br />

the visit of the <strong>Faroe</strong> <strong>Islands</strong><br />

07 BUSINESS BEFORE BOOGIE<br />

<strong>Scotland</strong> need a first World Cup<br />

qualifying win before looking<br />

out their dancing shoes for the<br />

summer<br />

12 GRAFT AND CRAFT<br />

Squad newcomer Kevin Nisbet<br />

has enjoyed continuous progress<br />

after making the most of his<br />

talent<br />

10 FAROE ISLANDS IN NUMBERS<br />

20 START WITH THE DREAM<br />

Tonight’s visiting coach has<br />

shown he can upset the odds<br />

26 WE’VE MET BEFORE<br />

<strong>Scotland</strong> 6-0 <strong>Faroe</strong> <strong>Islands</strong><br />

28 PREVIOUS MEETINGS<br />

The countries have met nine<br />

times and tonight’s visitors have<br />

left their mark on the Scottish<br />

public<br />

34 ON THIS DATE<br />

<strong>Scotland</strong> 1-2 Romania<br />

31 March, 2004<br />

36 SCOTLAND PLAYER Q & A<br />

Yes Sir, Andy Considine answers<br />

the questions ahead of the<br />

<strong>Faroe</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> qualifier<br />

42 HAPPY FACES<br />

Under-12s have been back<br />

playing football with the return<br />

of contact training<br />

47 SUBLIME TO THE RIDICULOUS<br />

<strong>Scotland</strong> fan Dave Harley recalls<br />

his adventures on the road,<br />

including a roundabout route in<br />

the <strong>Faroe</strong>s<br />

50 TONIGHT’S SQUADS<br />

OFFICIALS<br />

Referee:<br />

Trustin Farrugia Cann (MLT)<br />

Assistant referee 1:<br />

Luke Portelli (MLT)<br />

Assistant referee 2:<br />

Roberto Vella (MLT)<br />

4th official:<br />

Ishmael Barbara (MLT)<br />

3<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

MANAGER'S WELCOME<br />

4<br />

Tonight we aim to end this FIFA<br />

World Cup Qualifying triple header<br />

on a high, as we welcome the <strong>Faroe</strong><br />

<strong>Islands</strong> to Hampden Park.<br />

It is very difficult at this stage to predict how<br />

the qualification campaign will unfold as there<br />

is a long road still ahead of us. We are in a<br />

group where several of the teams are closely<br />

matched and I have a feeling that there will be<br />

a few twists and turns ahead.<br />

We managed to work our way into some<br />

promising positions throughout the game on<br />

Sunday against Israel but just lacked that bit<br />

of quality, whether it was the final pass or our<br />

execution in front of goal.<br />

We coped reasonably well with periods<br />

of pressure, especially in the first half, but<br />

conceded a goal just before half-time. The<br />

timing of the goal was similar to our November<br />

game in Israel but this time after a small tactical<br />

adjustment we managed to get the secondhalf<br />

goal, courtesy of Ryan Fraser, which gave<br />

us a more than deserved share of the points.<br />

We also demonstrated in the second half how<br />

good we can be and now we need to put that<br />

level of performance in across 90 minutes<br />

tonight.<br />

Sunday evening also saw the team play in front<br />

of spectators for the first time in more than a<br />

year which was positive to see, despite the<br />

lack of Scottish voices cheering us on. We have<br />

missed the backing of the <strong>Scotland</strong> supporters<br />

and are looking forward to the time when you<br />

can all pack the stands at Hampden once<br />

again.<br />

In our last match on home soil we expected an<br />

open game against Austria and the secondhalf<br />

certainly delivered just that. I was pleased<br />

with the character the team showed to bounce<br />

back after falling behind on two occasions.<br />

After being under a little bit of pressure in<br />

the first 15 minutes or so I thought we were<br />

marginally the better team and perhaps with a<br />

bit of luck could have won. It was a match with<br />

a number of contentious decisions but I was<br />

pleased with the effort and resilience shown by<br />

the players.<br />

It was great for Grant Hanley to get a goal in<br />

his first start for the national team after a bit of<br />

an absence, mainly due to injury issues. John<br />

McGinn produced a moment of magic for our<br />

second goal and I can only imagine what the<br />

reaction from the fans would have been had<br />

there been spectators there. John is one of a<br />

number of important players for us and he now<br />

has another memorable goal for his country to<br />

add to his growing tally.<br />

Looking ahead to tonight, it is a crucial game<br />

for everyone associated with the team, and we<br />

are well aware of the importance of this match.<br />

It has been said many times before, but every<br />

game in international football is difficult and<br />

that has been reinforced by recent results<br />

across Europe. Spain had to wait until the<br />

93rd-minute for their winner in Georgia and<br />

the Republic of Ireland were given a shock<br />

by Luxembourg last weekend. There are no<br />

easy games at this level, so we’ll respect the<br />

opposition and look forward to the latest<br />

challenge that awaits.<br />

We can’t afford to be complacent, as we<br />

recognise the <strong>Faroe</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> will be a welldisciplined<br />

and organised opponent. We’ll<br />

need to be at our clinical best tonight to ensure<br />

victory.<br />

Thank you for your support, wherever you may<br />

be watching. Enjoy the game.<br />

Steve Clarke<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

5<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

SCENESETTER<br />

BUSINESS<br />

BEFORE BOOGIE<br />

<strong>Scotland</strong> need a first World Cup qualifying win before looking<br />

out their dancing shoes for the summer<br />

By Graeme McGarry, Herald and Times<br />

It is one of the oldest<br />

clichés in the book<br />

that there are no<br />

easy games at<br />

international level.<br />

Like all clichés though,<br />

there is a kernel of truth<br />

contained within, and the<br />

Tartan Army know only<br />

too well how pride can<br />

come before the fall.<br />

So it is unlikely that there<br />

will be many <strong>Scotland</strong><br />

supporters settling down<br />

in their living rooms in<br />

expectation of a cakewalk<br />

tonight against the <strong>Faroe</strong><br />

<strong>Islands</strong>. And while Steve<br />

Clarke and his men will<br />

be confident they can<br />

get their first win of this<br />

World Cup qualification<br />

group on the board, the<br />

Scots will certainly not be<br />

taking their opponents<br />

lightly.<br />

Depending on your<br />

disposition, <strong>Scotland</strong><br />

either come into this<br />

game chasing their tails a<br />

little already after draws<br />

against Austria and Israel<br />

to open up Group F, or<br />

with the opportunity to<br />

put themselves right in<br />

the mix after an unbeaten<br />

start in their bid to reach<br />

Qatar next year.<br />

With top two seeds<br />

Denmark and Austria<br />

facing off this evening,<br />

<strong>Scotland</strong> simply must win<br />

to round off what would<br />

then be a satisfactory<br />

three-game run before<br />

attention turns fully<br />

towards the European<br />

Championship finals this<br />

summer.<br />

Before we can boogie,<br />

we have to take care of<br />

business.<br />

Those of a certain age<br />

will know that it isn’t<br />

always straightforward<br />

for the Scots against the<br />

<strong>Faroe</strong> <strong>Islands</strong>. Not only<br />

did <strong>Scotland</strong> limp to a 1-1<br />

draw against tonight’s<br />

opponents back in June<br />

1999, but they did well in<br />

the end to escape Toftir<br />

with a point after trailing<br />

by two goals at halftime<br />

three years later. A<br />

memory sure to send a<br />

shiver up the spine of any<br />

<strong>Scotland</strong> supporter.<br />

At home though,<br />

<strong>Scotland</strong> have won all<br />

five previous meetings,<br />

with an aggregate score<br />

of 19 goals to two. But<br />

the more recent form of<br />

the <strong>Faroe</strong>se will ensure<br />

that any false sense of<br />

security inspired by those<br />

historic stats should be<br />

quickly dispelled.<br />

7<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

8<br />

The <strong>Faroe</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> went<br />

unbeaten through their<br />

UEFA Nations League<br />

group against Malta,<br />

Andorra and Latvia, and<br />

secured an opening-day<br />

1-1 draw on the road<br />

against Moldova in this<br />

group. What really made<br />

the rest of the section<br />

sit up and take notice<br />

of Hakan Ericson’s men<br />

though, along with most<br />

of Europe, was Sonni<br />

Nattestad’s 19th-minute<br />

opener against Austria<br />

in Vienna on Sunday<br />

evening.<br />

They held onto the lead<br />

for just 11 minutes and<br />

were 3-1 behind by<br />

the interval, mind you,<br />

and that is the way the<br />

game finished after a<br />

goalless second half. But<br />

they certainly gave the<br />

Austrians a fright for that<br />

short spell, and given<br />

Above:<br />

<strong>Faroe</strong>s’<br />

defender<br />

Sonni<br />

Nattestad<br />

opened<br />

the scoring<br />

against<br />

Austria on<br />

Sunday<br />

Right<br />

(clockwise<br />

from top):<br />

Grant<br />

Hanley’s<br />

header starts<br />

the comeback<br />

against<br />

Austria;<br />

John McGinn<br />

equalises in<br />

sensational<br />

fashion;<br />

and is<br />

congratulated<br />

by manager<br />

and teammates<br />

alike<br />

<strong>Scotland</strong>’s propensity for<br />

doing things the hard way<br />

so far in this section, they<br />

will have to be wary of<br />

another fast start from<br />

the visitors.<br />

Again, <strong>Scotland</strong>’s own<br />

performances in their<br />

two qualifying matches<br />

to date can be viewed<br />

through a positive or<br />

negative prism. On the<br />

down side, we have fallen<br />

behind in both matches,<br />

but on the plus side, we<br />

have shown admirable<br />

grit and resilience to<br />

emerge from both of<br />

those matches with<br />

something to show for our<br />

efforts.<br />

Clarke will look for his<br />

men to start tonight’s<br />

game on the front foot,<br />

having taken the majority<br />

of the first half to get to<br />

grips with the Austrians<br />

last Thursday evening<br />

before asserting some<br />

control over the match.<br />

Grant Hanley’s header<br />

from Stephen O’Donnell’s<br />

free-kick regained parity<br />

for the Scots after Sasa<br />

Kalajdzic’s opener and<br />

looked to have Clarke’s<br />

men on course to go on<br />

and win the game. But<br />

Kalajdzic popped up<br />

again to have <strong>Scotland</strong><br />

staring at the prospect of<br />

a damaging home defeat.<br />

Super John McGinn had<br />

other ideas though,<br />

pulling a glorious<br />

overhead kick out of the<br />

bag to give <strong>Scotland</strong> what<br />

could eventually turn out<br />

to be a precious point,<br />

and what will definitely<br />

be a precious memory for<br />

the Tartan Army.<br />

It was a similar story<br />

in Tel Aviv on Sunday,<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

9<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

where it took the Scots<br />

the opening 45 minutes to<br />

find their feet.<br />

A couple of tactical<br />

changes at the interval<br />

from Clarke saw <strong>Scotland</strong><br />

assert themselves<br />

and produce a muchimproved<br />

display in the<br />

second half, and the one<br />

disappointment was<br />

that they only had Ryan<br />

Fraser’s goal and a single<br />

point to show for their<br />

efforts after Dor Peretz’s<br />

long-range opener.<br />

“The first half I thought<br />

Israel started the game<br />

very well, very well,”<br />

Clarke said afterwards.<br />

“We had to dig in and as<br />

we approached half-time<br />

I could see us getting to<br />

half-time at 0-0.<br />

“Obviously we concede<br />

to a decent shot<br />

from distance. It was<br />

disappointing. But the<br />

changes, the tweak to<br />

the system, at half-time<br />

seemed to help in the<br />

second half and we had a<br />

much better second half.”<br />

Another major positive<br />

from the game in Israel<br />

was the performance of<br />

Che Adams on his first<br />

start for his country, after<br />

making his debut from the<br />

bench against Austria.<br />

The Southampton striker<br />

led the line brilliantly,<br />

and teed up Fraser for<br />

<strong>Scotland</strong>’s equaliser. His<br />

only disappointment,<br />

according to his manager,<br />

was that he didn’t get on<br />

the scoresheet himself,<br />

but he will certainly fancy<br />

his chances of opening his<br />

account in the dark blue<br />

this evening.<br />

<strong>Scotland</strong> fans are excited<br />

by the prospect of a<br />

Ché Adams<br />

made his<br />

international<br />

debut<br />

against<br />

Austria last<br />

week<br />

possible partnership<br />

between Adams and<br />

Lyndon Dykes, which<br />

we were given a brief<br />

tantalising glimpse of in<br />

the second half against<br />

Austria as the Scots<br />

chased the game.<br />

Tonight, Clarke may<br />

feel that the occasion<br />

allows for him to pair two<br />

players who have quickly<br />

established themselves<br />

as key components in<br />

the <strong>Scotland</strong> squad, and<br />

also as favourites of the<br />

<strong>Scotland</strong> support.<br />

Either way, Adams looks<br />

to have a bright future<br />

at international level.<br />

According to Clarke<br />

though, it is still too early<br />

to tell what the future<br />

holds for <strong>Scotland</strong> in this<br />

group. Win tonight, and<br />

that future may just be<br />

bright.<br />

11<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

GRAFT AND<br />

CRAFT<br />

Squad newcomer Kevin Nisbet has enjoyed continuous<br />

progress since an early-career epiphany<br />

12<br />

By Kenny Millar<br />

Kevin Nisbet is not short of<br />

motivation as he looks to make<br />

the most of his first involvement<br />

with the <strong>Scotland</strong> squad.<br />

The Hibernian striker is the top-scoring<br />

Scotsman in this season’s Premiership,<br />

having hit the ground running at Easter<br />

Road since his summer move from<br />

Dunfermline.<br />

The single-minded 24-year-old is fuelled<br />

by a desire to make up for lost time after,<br />

by his own admission, squandering an<br />

early opportunity with formative club<br />

Partick Thistle before seizing his second<br />

chance with Raith Rovers.<br />

Having earned another tilt at the topflight<br />

in the green and white, he endured<br />

the tragic loss of his father, Thomas, to<br />

cancer in October.<br />

No-one wins <strong>Scotland</strong> recognition<br />

without dealing with some setbacks<br />

along the way, and Nesbit is determined<br />

to prove some early sceptics wrong and<br />

his beloved mentor right.<br />

He said: “I’ve learned not to take<br />

anything for granted any more. I’ve had<br />

some lows along the way.<br />

“I’m a better player and a better person<br />

for some of the struggles I had early in<br />

my career. Hard work has got me where<br />

I am and hard work will keep me here.<br />

“It was one of the proudest moments of<br />

my life when I heard about the call-up.<br />

It maybe sounds like a small thing, but it<br />

was a special moment when I picked up<br />

my training kit.<br />

“Having said that, I was determined to<br />

come here and make a good impression.<br />

Not just make up the numbers.<br />

“It has taken me a long time to get here<br />

and it’s not been a straight line in terms<br />

of uninterrupted progress. I believe in<br />

myself now. My dad always did.”<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

13<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

When Nisbet spoke in the aftermath of<br />

his call-up, he recalled one of the last<br />

conversations he had with his father - a<br />

committed <strong>Scotland</strong> supporter who<br />

told his son to go and make a name for<br />

himself with the national team.<br />

Whether he makes it on to the pitch<br />

against the <strong>Faroe</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> or not, he has<br />

already made his family very proud.<br />

Nisbet added: “I remember him saying<br />

it, really clearly, that I was to go and get<br />

myself in the <strong>Scotland</strong> squad.<br />

“Whatever I go on to achieve, it’ll be for<br />

him and my family. I’m happy I’ve been<br />

able to fulfil that promise I made to him.<br />

“He was a big <strong>Scotland</strong> fan and would<br />

tell me about trips to England to watch<br />

the team. Like a lot of people, his<br />

favourite goal was James McFadden’s<br />

against France and he could describe<br />

that in great detail.<br />

“I know it would mean a lot to him to<br />

create some memories of my own.”<br />

Kevin Nisbet<br />

has scored a<br />

dozen times<br />

in the Scottish<br />

Premiership<br />

for Hibernian<br />

this season<br />

If you spend any time in Nisbet’s<br />

company, his drive and focus come<br />

across loud and clear. He has won<br />

plaudits for the mix of craft and graft<br />

in his game that has helped push Hibs<br />

to third in the table. There are obvious<br />

attributes that clearly attracted the<br />

attention of Steve Clarke - and none<br />

more so than a relentless work ethic.<br />

He said: “I’ve had a few good<br />

conversations with the gaffer. He told<br />

me that he expects hard work and<br />

that I’ve done well in training. That he<br />

wanted me to enjoy the experience and<br />

take my chance if it comes.<br />

“I wasn’t really nervous beforehand. It<br />

was just excitement. I’ve waited a long<br />

time to get to here and I feel like I’ve<br />

settled in well. The standard in training<br />

is high but I back myself ability-wise. I’m<br />

a confident person.”<br />

Nisbet has timed his runs into the<br />

box well all season and the same<br />

could be said for a first crack at the<br />

15<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

16<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

<strong>Scotland</strong> squad, with the European<br />

Championship looming large on the<br />

horizon.<br />

Clarke, though, rightly points to the<br />

importance - first and foremost - of<br />

the World Cup qualifiers. No-one is<br />

daydreaming about the summer when<br />

there is work to do first.<br />

Nisbet said: “The gaffer said on day<br />

one of the training camp that any talk<br />

about the Euros was done and dusted.<br />

All the focus was to be on the games<br />

ahead of us.<br />

“I think the whole country is excited<br />

about the Euros and we’ll all talk about<br />

that night in Serbia for years to come<br />

but that will take care of itself.<br />

“It doesn’t get any bigger than the<br />

World Cup and I can’t afford to be<br />

thinking any further than my next<br />

training session or game.<br />

“It would mean everything to get an<br />

opportunity. All I can do is give the<br />

gaffer something to think about and,<br />

like he says, be ready if my moment<br />

comes.”<br />

If his role tonight is to be part of the<br />

supporting cast on the substitutes’<br />

bench, Nisbet will approach that with<br />

the same spirit that he would if charged<br />

with leading the line.<br />

A first<br />

international<br />

call-up has<br />

been a proud<br />

moment for<br />

the 24-yearold<br />

He has been impressed by the team<br />

spirit within the group that has helped<br />

put smiles back on faces across the<br />

nation in what has been a testing time<br />

for everyone.<br />

Nisbet said: “The standards are obvious<br />

within the group. Everything is done<br />

with professionalism and we are well<br />

looked after. In return, you can see<br />

the effort that the boys put in and<br />

how much it means for them all to be<br />

involved.<br />

“I would love the chance to play. You<br />

grow up dreaming about pulling on that<br />

shirt.<br />

“Having said that, if the gaffer needs me<br />

to be a sub then I’ll play my part. The<br />

best <strong>Scotland</strong> teams have always been<br />

the ones with a real spirit and I think you<br />

can see that here.<br />

“You’re doing it for something that’s<br />

bigger than yourself, with a whole<br />

country behind you, willing you on. It’s a<br />

privilege to be involved.”<br />

17<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

OPPOSITION FOCUS<br />

FAROE ISLANDS<br />

IN NUMBERS<br />

18<br />

1988<br />

First international<br />

match as FIFA members<br />

for the <strong>Faroe</strong>s <strong>Islands</strong><br />

sees them lose 1-0 to<br />

Iceland in Akranes<br />

Rógvi<br />

Jacobsen is<br />

the top scorer<br />

for the <strong>Faroe</strong>s<br />

<strong>Islands</strong> with<br />

1010 goals<br />

12<br />

The <strong>Faroe</strong>se are the<br />

12th side Hakan Ericson<br />

has managed during<br />

his career<br />

Fróði<br />

Benjaminsen<br />

is the record<br />

cap holder<br />

for the <strong>Faroe</strong><br />

<strong>Islands</strong><br />

94<br />

0<strong>Faroe</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> have<br />

never qualified for a<br />

major tournament<br />

6<br />

Tonight’s visitors<br />

have scored six times<br />

against <strong>Scotland</strong><br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

8<br />

Most goals tonight’s<br />

1990<br />

visitors have conceded,<br />

against Yugoslavia in an<br />

8-1 defeat in 1996<br />

When the <strong>Faroe</strong> <strong>Islands</strong>, in their first<br />

competitive fixture, shocked the world<br />

by beating Austria 1-0 in a Euro<br />

qualifier in Landskrona, Sweden<br />

74<br />

The North Atlantic nation<br />

reached 74th in the FIFA<br />

World Cup Rankings<br />

between July 2015 and<br />

October 2016<br />

4The <strong>Faroe</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> scored<br />

four times in their<br />

biggest-ever win, against<br />

Gibraltar in March 2014<br />

1994<br />

The first time <strong>Scotland</strong> hosted the <strong>Faroe</strong><br />

<strong>Islands</strong>, in a European Championship qualifier<br />

<strong>Scotland</strong><br />

and the<br />

<strong>Faroe</strong><br />

<strong>Islands</strong><br />

have<br />

played<br />

each other<br />

nine times,<br />

with the<br />

Scots<br />

winning<br />

seven<br />

2The <strong>Faroe</strong> <strong>Islands</strong><br />

have held <strong>Scotland</strong><br />

to a draw twice<br />

7<br />

Jóan Símun<br />

Edmundsson of German<br />

side Arminia Bielefeld<br />

is the top scorer in the<br />

current squad<br />

19<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

20<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

OPPOSITION FOCUS<br />

‘START WITH<br />

THE DREAM’<br />

Tonight’s visiting coach has shown he can upset the odds<br />

akan Ericson has worked hard<br />

to imbue the <strong>Faroe</strong>s <strong>Islands</strong> with<br />

Hhis positive thinking philosophy<br />

and the signs are encouraging.<br />

Sunday night’s 3-1 defeat by Austria<br />

in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in<br />

Vienna was the first competitive loss<br />

in eight matches since the 60-year-old<br />

Swede took over from Lars Olsen in<br />

January 2020.<br />

Previously, Ericson guided Sweden<br />

to their first ever European Under-21<br />

Championship triumph. His side beat<br />

Portugal on penalties in the 2015 final<br />

after leaving Italy and England behind<br />

in Group B, before enjoying an unbeaten<br />

qualification campaign for the 2017<br />

tournament.<br />

The former Aby IF and IK Sleipner player<br />

has drawn on those experiences since<br />

becoming head coach of the <strong>Faroe</strong>s<br />

and is confident that his side, who<br />

started the qualification campaign<br />

with a 1-1 draw in Moldova, can put a<br />

dent in <strong>Scotland</strong>’s World Cup hopes at<br />

Hampden Park tonight.<br />

“You start with the dream, then with the<br />

thoughts and then with the structure,”<br />

said Ericson, the son of Georg Ericson,<br />

who took Sweden to the 1974 and 1978<br />

World Cup finals.<br />

“It is my philosophy in life. If you are not<br />

brave enough to think something will<br />

happen then it will never happen.<br />

“I try to transmit my experience I have<br />

had with the Sweden national team.<br />

I know that even if your players are<br />

maybe not as good as your opponents,<br />

or the valuation of the team is much<br />

lower, it is just 11 against 11.<br />

“We actually won the Euros in 2015,<br />

against Portugal, with Italy and England<br />

in the group. In the next qualification<br />

campaign we were in the same group<br />

as Spain and Croatia and we won that<br />

group and were unbeaten.<br />

“Nine out of 10 games the better<br />

team will win, but in the 10th game you<br />

can win. So yes, we have possibilities<br />

to do it.<br />

“I also know how difficult it can be to<br />

meet a smaller team or country because<br />

21<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

“I THINK MY PLAYERS ARE<br />

GETTING MY POSITIVE<br />

MESSAGE, THEY ALWAYS TRY<br />

TO THINK THEY CAN WIN”<br />

23<br />

everyone expects you to win the game<br />

and if the weaker team has the fighting<br />

spirit it is not too easy.<br />

“I think my players are getting my<br />

positive message, they always try to<br />

think they can win.”<br />

Steve Clarke’s men have drawn against<br />

Austria at home and Israel away in<br />

their opening two Group F qualifiers<br />

and anything less than victory tonight is<br />

unthinkable.<br />

However, no <strong>Scotland</strong> fan needs<br />

reminding that the <strong>Faroe</strong>s <strong>Islands</strong> twice<br />

before shocked the Scots in qualifiers<br />

by holding them to a draw.<br />

Ericson’s side won their 2020-21<br />

Nations League Group, finishing<br />

above Malta, Latvia and Andorra in<br />

D1 with three wins and three draws.<br />

By contrast, the <strong>Faroe</strong>s finished<br />

third behind Kosova and<br />

Azerbaijan in the inaugural Nations<br />

League tournament.<br />

“Winning their Nations League group<br />

was very important for the players,”<br />

said Ericson, who will face a Scottish<br />

team for the first time. “It was the first<br />

time that we had not lost in seven<br />

(competitive) games and that had never<br />

happened before.<br />

“We can compare that Nations League<br />

tournament with the last time we<br />

played in it and in comparison we have<br />

improved a lot in most aspects of the<br />

play, we have been better. Together with<br />

results, players feel more comfortable<br />

and confident but they also know that<br />

the World Cup is a new situation.<br />

“<strong>Scotland</strong> is a good team who are going<br />

to the Euros in the summer. They have<br />

a lot of good players, they are physical,<br />

with good structure, who play a more<br />

direct way than Austria and they are<br />

good in both boxes. They will be tough<br />

opponents in both games but, of course,<br />

especially away.<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

“As a small country, to get this<br />

experience is also a big part of the<br />

journey. Of course we also want to<br />

take a lot of points but also we have<br />

opportunities to play against the best<br />

players in fantastic arenas. So we are<br />

really looking forward to it.”<br />

Gunnar Nielsen was in goal for the<br />

<strong>Faroe</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> the last time they played<br />

<strong>Scotland</strong>, with the home side winning<br />

3-0 in a friendly at Pittodrie on 16<br />

November 2010.<br />

The 34-year-old, who had two spells<br />

at Motherwell, confirmed a different<br />

approach under Ericson and the<br />

continual progression of a small football<br />

nation which draws its squad from a<br />

population of around 50,000.<br />

24<br />

Neilson, who now plays for Icelandic<br />

side FH, said: “There have been big<br />

changes from that time in 2010. I think<br />

we have a better team now, we have<br />

more technical players now, some really<br />

ambitious players.<br />

“Maybe back then there was more,<br />

I wouldn’t say kick and rush, but we<br />

defended quite a bit and maybe went a<br />

bit more long ball.<br />

“Nowadays we are more of a passing<br />

team and when we can, we try to keep<br />

the ball on the ground and play our<br />

passing game.<br />

“Along the way there have been some<br />

great results, we beat Greece twice<br />

(2014 and 2015) and won our Nations<br />

League group last year, so there have<br />

been some really nice results along<br />

the way.<br />

Above: <strong>Faroe</strong>s’<br />

forward<br />

Meinhard<br />

Olsen<br />

Below: ‘‘Keeper<br />

Gunnar Nielsen<br />

had two<br />

spells with<br />

Motherwell<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

“WE NEED TO BE SOLID,<br />

THEN IF WE CAN GET OUR<br />

OFFENSIVE PLAYERS GOING<br />

AS WELL, HOPEFULLY WE<br />

WILL GET SOME CHANCES” 25<br />

“I don’t think I can mention any names.<br />

Our strength, if you like, is that we<br />

need to have a strong collective, the<br />

team comes first. We have some good<br />

technical players but it is always about<br />

the team.<br />

“We need to be solid, then if we can<br />

get our offensive players going as well,<br />

hopefully we will get some chances.”<br />

Nielsen, part of the Motherwell<br />

team which finished second in the<br />

Premiership to Celtic in 2014, keeps<br />

a weather eye on Scottish football<br />

and believes there has also been<br />

improvements in the national team.<br />

He said: “All in all, I have nice<br />

memories from my time in<br />

<strong>Scotland</strong>. It was great to be a part<br />

of it, finishing second to Celtic<br />

and the experience of Scottish<br />

football, the stadiums, the<br />

passion of the fans, was a nice<br />

experience. Scottish people love their<br />

football, they are really into it.<br />

“I don’t think the national team was at<br />

that good a point at the time compared<br />

to now. People (in <strong>Scotland</strong>) always<br />

have big dreams for the national team<br />

and maybe it has been a bit up and<br />

down at times, maybe the results have<br />

not lived up to expectations.<br />

“But you have to say this is the best the<br />

team has looked for quite a few years.<br />

They are strong, a good mix of players,<br />

a lot of players who are on the way<br />

up and players who are in their prime.<br />

There is John McGinn, Scott McTominay<br />

and Andy Robertson from Liverpool but<br />

in general they are just a really sound<br />

team.<br />

“<strong>Scotland</strong> also have a really good coach,<br />

so I think the team is in a really good<br />

place and is it is going to be a very<br />

difficult game.”<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

26<br />

SCOTLAND 6<br />

FAROE ISLANDS 0<br />

European Championship<br />

Saturday 2 September, 2006<br />

The last time <strong>Scotland</strong> hosted <strong>Faroe</strong><br />

<strong>Islands</strong> in a competitive international<br />

back in September 2006, they secured<br />

their biggest win in 30 years.<br />

Walter Smith’s side had become<br />

familiar foes with the tiny North Atlantic<br />

nation, having been drawn alongside<br />

them in four successive European<br />

Qualifying campaigns.<br />

The hosts got their quest to reach Euro<br />

2008 off to the perfect start at Celtic<br />

Park, with a Darren Fletcher tap-in<br />

and James McFadden’s 18-yard strike<br />

putting them 2-0 ahead within the<br />

opening 10 minutes.<br />

Kris Boyd also scored a first-half brace,<br />

one from the spot, while Kenny Miller<br />

added a second penalty of the afternoon<br />

and substitute Garry O’Connor<br />

completed the rout late on.<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

27<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

PREVIOUS<br />

MEETINGS<br />

The countries have met nine times and tonight’s<br />

visitors have left their mark on the Scottish public<br />

<strong>Scotland</strong> have never lost to the <strong>Faroe</strong><br />

<strong>Islands</strong> but mention of the North<br />

Atlantic outpost can still bring a shiver<br />

to the spine of the Tartan Army.<br />

28<br />

The 1-1 draw when the two countries<br />

met in Toftir on 5 June 1999, was hugely<br />

embarrassing but also damaging<br />

to hopes of qualifying for the 2000<br />

European Championship.<br />

Attacker Allan Johnston gave <strong>Scotland</strong><br />

the lead with his first international goal,<br />

before the visitors were reduced to 10<br />

men when defender Matt Elliot was<br />

sent-off for violent conduct.<br />

Nevertheless, Craig Brown’s side<br />

looked as though they would hang on<br />

for a narrow win until they conceded<br />

one minute into stoppage time, when<br />

Hans Frodi Hansen’s header beat Neil<br />

Sullivan and sparked scenes of wild<br />

delight among the locals in the crowd<br />

of just over 4,000 in a country with a<br />

population then of less than 50,000.<br />

The demoralising draw meant <strong>Scotland</strong><br />

had little chance of claiming the one<br />

automatic qualifying spot in Group Nine.<br />

Ultimately, Brown’s men finished well<br />

behind group winners Czech Republic<br />

and although they claimed a play-<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

off spot, they were beaten 2-1 on<br />

aggregate by England.<br />

Three years later, again in Totfir, the<br />

Scots faced humiliation. In Berti Vogts’<br />

first competitive match as boss, <strong>Scotland</strong><br />

found themselves 2-0 down to the home<br />

side in their Euro 2004 qualifier.<br />

The lacklustre visitors were stunned<br />

when striker Jon Peterson struck twice in<br />

the first 12 minutes to give the part-time<br />

home side a well-deserved interval lead.<br />

<strong>Scotland</strong> cleared their heads after the<br />

break and captain Paul Lambert reduced<br />

the deficit just after the hour mark,<br />

before fellow midfielder Barry Ferguson<br />

levelled with seven minutes remaining -<br />

but the <strong>Faroe</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> might have nicked<br />

it at the end.<br />

It was a disastrous start to the<br />

qualification campaign and Vogts told<br />

his players that he would not accept a<br />

repeat.<br />

The German said: “We played only for<br />

45 minutes and we were not on the<br />

pitch in the first half. After the second<br />

goal we come back into the game.<br />

Opposite<br />

page top:<br />

Allan Johnston<br />

scored his first<br />

international<br />

goal in Toftir<br />

Opposite page<br />

bottom: Hans<br />

Frodi Hansen<br />

(centre)<br />

accepts the<br />

congratulations<br />

after equalising<br />

for the <strong>Faroe</strong>s<br />

Above: John<br />

Petersen (right)<br />

soaks up the<br />

applause as<br />

the Scots face<br />

humiliation in<br />

2002<br />

“I cannot understand what has<br />

happened and why we couldn’t keep up<br />

to speed in the first half, which was a<br />

problem.<br />

“This was not a lucky draw, this was<br />

a real result for both teams. I have to<br />

talk to the players. That was not good<br />

enough for international football.<br />

“We did so well in training all week and<br />

also in the training match, but that was<br />

completely different in the first half. In<br />

the second half it was better, but the<br />

first half was very disappointing for me.’’<br />

Before those back-to-back draws,<br />

<strong>Scotland</strong> had won the first three<br />

meetings between the countries, all<br />

in Euro qualifiers, and since the fright<br />

nights in 1999 and 2002, they have won<br />

the four subsequent clashes.<br />

A year after the 2-2 draw, <strong>Scotland</strong><br />

won the rematch 3-1 at Hampden Park<br />

when James McFadden came off the<br />

bench to score his first goal in dark blue.<br />

<strong>Scotland</strong> finished four points behind<br />

section leaders Germany and lost 6-1<br />

on aggregate to the Netherlands in the<br />

29<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

Left: Walter<br />

Smith’s<br />

<strong>Scotland</strong><br />

registered<br />

their biggest<br />

win for 30<br />

years with<br />

victory over<br />

<strong>Faroe</strong> <strong>Islands</strong><br />

in September<br />

2006<br />

play-off following a dramatic 1-0 win<br />

over the Dutch at Hampden.<br />

<strong>Scotland</strong> and the <strong>Faroe</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> were<br />

drawn in the same group for the 2008<br />

Euro qualifier.<br />

On 2 September 2006, <strong>Scotland</strong>, under<br />

Walter Smith, won 6-0 in their opener<br />

at Celtic Park - their biggest win for 30<br />

years - and 2-0 in the return game. A<br />

first-half double from Kris Boyd, along<br />

with strikes from Darren Fletcher, Kenny<br />

Miller, McFadden and Garry O’Connor,<br />

got the campaign off to a flying start<br />

and it was the Scots’ biggest win since<br />

an 8-0 thrashing of Cyprus in 1968.<br />

Smith praised his team for their efforts<br />

at Celtic Park.<br />

He said: “The <strong>Faroe</strong>s will be difficult for a<br />

lot of countries to break down, especially<br />

in away matches. I was really pleased<br />

with the way we started and managed<br />

to get a couple of early goals which<br />

settled everyone down.<br />

“It was difficult to recreate that in the<br />

second half - I didn’t think there was an<br />

edge to our play. But obviously I was<br />

pleased we got six by the end and won<br />

the game.’’<br />

31<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

The following June, <strong>Scotland</strong>, then<br />

managed by Alex McLeish, steered their<br />

Euro 2008 qualifying campaign back on<br />

track with a 2-0 win in the Svangaskard<br />

Stadium, thanks to Shaun Maloney’s<br />

super free-kick and a Garry O’Connor<br />

strike, but would end the campaign an<br />

agonising third behind superpowers<br />

France and Italy.<br />

Craig Levein was the manager the last<br />

time <strong>Scotland</strong> played the <strong>Faroe</strong> <strong>Islands</strong><br />

11 years ago at Pittodrie and it was a<br />

makeshift Scottish side who cruised to a<br />

3-0 friendly win in the Granite City.<br />

Levein had left several regulars out of<br />

his original squad and was then hit by<br />

nine withdrawals. Debutant defender<br />

Danny Wilson opened the scoring after<br />

24 minutes, before Kris Commons and<br />

Jamie Mackie both scored their first<br />

international goals to have the game<br />

finished as a contest by half-time.<br />

Above: Garry<br />

O’Conor<br />

celebrates<br />

with Shaun<br />

Maloney<br />

in the<br />

Svangaskard<br />

Stadium<br />

Left: Kris<br />

Commons<br />

and Danny<br />

Wilson both<br />

made their<br />

international<br />

firsts 11 years<br />

ago<br />

Right: Craig<br />

Levein guided<br />

<strong>Scotland</strong> to<br />

victory in the<br />

Granite City<br />

Bottom: Jamie<br />

Mackie was<br />

on target<br />

against the<br />

<strong>Faroe</strong> <strong>Islands</strong><br />

at Pittodrie<br />

Barry Bannan, James McArthur, Cammy<br />

Bell, Craig Bryson, Steven Saunders<br />

and David Goodwillie also made their<br />

debuts, the latter five as second-half<br />

substitutes.<br />

There won’t be as many new faces<br />

tonight, but expectations will be high<br />

as Steve Clarke looks for three valuable<br />

2022 World Cup qualifying points.<br />

33<br />

Date Fixture Res Score Competition<br />

12 Oct 1994 <strong>Scotland</strong> v <strong>Faroe</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> W 5-1 UEFA European Championship<br />

7 Jun 1995 <strong>Faroe</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> v <strong>Scotland</strong> W 0-2 UEFA European Championship<br />

14 Oct 1998 <strong>Scotland</strong> v <strong>Faroe</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> W 2-1 UEFA European Championship<br />

5 Jun 1999 <strong>Faroe</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> v <strong>Scotland</strong> D 1-1 UEFA European Championship<br />

7 Sep 2002 <strong>Faroe</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> v <strong>Scotland</strong> D 2-2 UEFA European Championship<br />

6 Sep 2003 <strong>Scotland</strong> v <strong>Faroe</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> W 3-1 UEFA European Championship<br />

2 Sep 2006 <strong>Scotland</strong> v <strong>Faroe</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> W 6-0 UEFA European Championship<br />

6 Jun 2007 <strong>Faroe</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> v <strong>Scotland</strong> W 0-2 UEFA European Championship<br />

16 Nov 2010 <strong>Scotland</strong> v <strong>Faroe</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> W 3-0 International Friendly<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

34<br />

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SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

MAR<br />

31<br />

ON THIS<br />

DATE...<br />

SCOTLAND 1-2 ROMANIA<br />

Wednesday 31 March, 2004 | International Friendly<br />

A first friendly international goal at Hampden Park<br />

for eight years by James McFadden wasn’t enough<br />

to prevent defeat to Romania the last time <strong>Scotland</strong><br />

played on this date in 2004.<br />

After a tempestuous opening period saw John<br />

Kennedy go off injured 18 minutes into his<br />

international debut, Christian Chivu broke the<br />

deadlock for the visitors on the half-hour mark when<br />

a deflected free-kick wrong-footed goalkeeper Paul<br />

Gallacher.<br />

Daniel Pancu doubled Romania’s lead shortly after<br />

the interval, playing a neat one-two with Chelsea’s<br />

Adrian Mutu before unleashing a powerful strike.<br />

The hosts rallied when substitute McFadden reduced<br />

the deficit five minutes later with a sublime curling<br />

effort, but it proved mere consolation as pressure<br />

continued to mount on manager Berti Vogts.<br />

35<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

ANDY<br />

CONSIDINE<br />

Q&A<br />

Ahead of the third and final fixture of the<br />

March international window, Aberdeen<br />

defender Andy Considine looks ahead to<br />

tonight’s encounter at Hampden.<br />

36<br />

The experienced defender discusses the<br />

feeling of settling in to the international<br />

squad and addresses THAT song in an<br />

exclusive Q&A.<br />

Andy, ahead of the final fixture<br />

Q of the March international break,<br />

how are you and the squad feeling for<br />

what has to be considered a must win<br />

game?<br />

AThe squad is really strong, it’s<br />

largely the core of the squad that<br />

qualified for Euro 2020 in November but<br />

with a few new faces, so we’re definitely<br />

in a good place.<br />

We knew before this break that all three<br />

games would be tough and we’ve seen<br />

that from the two points we’ve picked<br />

up so far. Both teams really gave their<br />

all against us and we found ourselves<br />

trailing, but the determination shown to<br />

dig in and get points from those games<br />

could well be the big moments that<br />

prove vital further down the line.<br />

We know that a win tonight is crucial<br />

though, so let’s hope we can get the<br />

result in the bag.<br />

QWe can’t speak about your<br />

<strong>Scotland</strong> career so far without<br />

talking about the Serbia match last<br />

year. We’ve seen what it meant to the<br />

supporters, but just how much did<br />

that night mean to you as players and<br />

how important was it to get over that<br />

line after 22 years of waiting?<br />

AThat night in Serbia was special,<br />

very special. We had all been<br />

waiting so long, as fans before players<br />

because we all grew up waiting for that<br />

day to come too.<br />

It built a bond among us all and I think<br />

that can be seen now. For me coming<br />

in to the group, it felt easy, everyone<br />

made me feel welcome and it’s a group<br />

of level-headed, nice lads. The unity<br />

among the group was already there<br />

but the result and celebrations after it<br />

solidified that.<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

37<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

90 minutes. We can’t forget that they<br />

have a lot to play for too though and, of<br />

course, showed they won’t be easy with<br />

their performance against Austria.<br />

38<br />

We’ve created a belief and a confidence<br />

as a group from that and I believe that<br />

has been a big part of the reason for us<br />

turning these past two games around<br />

to avoid defeats, coming from behind<br />

three times.<br />

Yes, they’ve not been victories but it’s<br />

early in the campaign, we’ve shown<br />

we’re difficult to beat and now it’s about<br />

securing all-important wins moving<br />

forward.<br />

QYou mention that character to<br />

come from behind in matches,<br />

just how important are three points<br />

tonight though?<br />

AThree points tonight will be as<br />

crucial as any three points we<br />

could pick up in this campaign. To get<br />

a first win under our belts could act<br />

as a springboard in the group, and<br />

it’s important to end this international<br />

window on a high ahead of the summer.<br />

From the outside looking in, people<br />

will say that <strong>Faroe</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> is an easy<br />

game and <strong>Scotland</strong> should breeze the<br />

They may look to sit deep defensively,<br />

be tough to break down and try and hit<br />

us on the counter, but we have enough<br />

experience to know not to take them<br />

lightly at all.<br />

QGoing back to Serbia, the<br />

celebrations were obviously<br />

very special for everyone. There was<br />

obviously a connection made between<br />

you and “Yes Sir, I Can Boogie”, which<br />

has now become a bit of a national<br />

anthem, what has that been like and<br />

how have you handled it all?<br />

AIt’s crazy isn’t it? The media and<br />

all that attention is something<br />

we have to deal with in day-to-day<br />

life. Players will speak to the media a<br />

couple of times a month at the least in<br />

the modern game and when you’re in<br />

football the media is just something that<br />

comes with the territory and we’re all<br />

used to that.<br />

The attention around that song was<br />

obviously far more than anyone could’ve<br />

anticipated. Of course it’s special, it<br />

means a lot to a lot of people now and<br />

it was certainly a good laugh in the<br />

dressing room after the game!<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

39<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

QThat was obviously a memorable<br />

way to mark your first call-up to<br />

the national team, but just how much<br />

does it mean to you to be called up for<br />

your country?<br />

AThe thing for me is it has come<br />

quite late in my career. When I got<br />

the message saying I was in the squad<br />

again for these matches, it felt exactly like<br />

the first time. I was over the moon and it<br />

really did make me feel proud.<br />

It was one of those things that I thought<br />

was never going to happen - I’m 34 next<br />

week - so it’s come late for me.<br />

Age is nothing though, I’m completely<br />

over the moon and representing your<br />

country is something that I don’t think<br />

gets lost on any of us to be honest.<br />

When we have so much to play for too it<br />

makes it even more important to us. Now<br />

we’ve had a taste of qualifying again, it’s<br />

about making that feeling more familiar.<br />

Similar to being called up though, I don’t<br />

think the feeling of qualifying will ever<br />

grow old if we can do it more regularly.<br />

QWhat was it like coming in to<br />

the international fold for the first<br />

time when it was such an important<br />

few games, and how important is it to<br />

make the new faces in this squad feel<br />

welcome?<br />

AI was a new guy less than six<br />

months ago in the international<br />

set-up and the boys all made me feel<br />

extremely welcome, for me that’s so<br />

important for the group as a whole.<br />

I’m sure the lads and myself will do the<br />

same with the new boys in this squad.<br />

Hopefully the new faces can settle as<br />

quickly and as easily as it felt for me and<br />

I’m confident they’ll contribute on the<br />

pitch too.<br />

41<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

COMMUNITY FOCUS<br />

HAPPY FACES<br />

Under-12s have been back playing football<br />

with the return of contact training<br />

Alex Reid, coach of Baljaffray FC’s 2010s<br />

side, was as excited as any of his young<br />

charges when the recent change in lockdown<br />

rules allowed the return of contact training.<br />

42<br />

Grassroots football took another step closer<br />

to normality in <strong>Scotland</strong> with the news that<br />

under-12s were able to resume participation<br />

in outdoor group activity, with appropriate<br />

hygiene measures and physical distancing in<br />

place before and after activity.<br />

After several months of engaging with<br />

his squad mostly on Zoom calls, Reid was<br />

delighted that they could all get together<br />

again, noting that some had also just returned<br />

to school as well after a period of home<br />

learning.<br />

The familiar sight and sound of excitement,<br />

enthusiasm, energy and laughter, as the<br />

young players reconnected, was music to his<br />

ears and brought joy to his heart.<br />

“It was brilliant,” said Reid. “I don’t know who<br />

was more excited, them or the coaches - I<br />

think my wife would say it was us.<br />

“When the rules changed to allow all of the<br />

squad back in full contact training we made<br />

the decision that all we would do is let them<br />

play football. They all got a football, we did<br />

our warm-up as normal and then we just<br />

played a big game and we did that for an hour<br />

and a half.<br />

“It is probably not page one in the coaching<br />

manual but do you know what? It was just<br />

about letting the boys play football, seeing<br />

their pals in that environment again and a<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

wider society, were subject to Coronavirus<br />

restrictions which kept many people apart and<br />

sometimes isolated.<br />

Now, he is looking forward to the time when<br />

he can again see his young team get back to<br />

playing games.<br />

Reid said: “We organised Zoom calls on<br />

Wednesday nights for them to dip in and<br />

out as they wanted and we had decent<br />

participation on that.<br />

43<br />

“We also posted on our social media to let<br />

them know what they could be doing and just<br />

let them know that we were there for them.<br />

Also the kids were off school as well which<br />

was another challenge.<br />

“We can’t wait to get back playing. The sooner<br />

they get back to that the better but clearly only<br />

when it is safe to do so.<br />

good night was had by all. They were able<br />

to play football without having to worry about<br />

anything.<br />

“They were just back at school that week and<br />

were also playing football so there was a lot of<br />

happy faces at the end of it.”<br />

Established in 1996, Baljaffray FC are based<br />

in Bearsden, near Glasgow, and are a Scottish<br />

FA quality mark club.<br />

Reid admits it was a “long winter” for<br />

coaches and players, who, along with<br />

“They have missed so much football in the last<br />

12 months. For various reasons, our boys have<br />

played three league matches in that time. So<br />

we can’t wait to get back and as soon as we<br />

are allowed to we will be getting the league<br />

back up and running.”<br />

Paul McNeill, head of community development<br />

at the Scottish FA, is heavily involved in the<br />

grassroots game in <strong>Scotland</strong>. He described<br />

the return to contact training as “absolutely<br />

fantastic news” and praised clubs for their<br />

effort in engaging with their young players<br />

during a difficult time. He believes the efforts<br />

made were beneficial for physical and mental<br />

well-being.<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


THE LONG ROAD BACK<br />

The story of <strong>Scotland</strong>’s unprecedented journey to<br />

a major tournament for the first time in a generation<br />

is to be published as an official book.<br />

To be published in May by Ignition Sports Media priced at £14.99,<br />

with pre-orders opening from April 12th.<br />

Visit www.ignitionsportsmedia.com and click on the<br />

Scottish Football tab for more details.


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

45<br />

He said: “A few weeks ago we were stuck in<br />

the house and there was heavy snow and<br />

now we have kids back outside smiling which<br />

is magnificent.<br />

“It’s as if we have never been away and what<br />

is really good is that you are seeing kids with<br />

happy faces, which is great to see.<br />

“Most of <strong>Scotland</strong> went into a mini-lockdown<br />

in mid-December and then 4 January it was<br />

another lockdown, so that is a long time in a<br />

child’s life. And of course, the first nationwide<br />

lockdown was a year ago.<br />

“I will give due credit to the clubs, they were<br />

all really good at finding digital platforms to<br />

do stuff. The grassroots community said, ‘this<br />

could be a long while, so let’s get online’ and<br />

they did a variety of things for children and<br />

young people.<br />

“Clubs were doing coaching sessions on<br />

Zoom, they were doing quiz nights and it kept<br />

kids involved because they couldn’t see each<br />

other and the weather was terrible outside as<br />

well and, remember, they were not at school<br />

either.<br />

“They managed to keep kids active, they got to<br />

see their pals in a setting they might not have<br />

and I think it helped them and the parents<br />

immensely.<br />

“What was encouraging was the feedback<br />

we got from the parents, who were saying,<br />

‘thanks a million’ because the kids really<br />

enjoyed it.”<br />

McNeill is aware that further progress for<br />

clubs getting back to normal is at the behest<br />

of the Scottish Government but is nevertheless<br />

optimistic.<br />

He said: “The next couple of weeks the<br />

12-17s will come back to contact training as<br />

well, with the usual caveats of group sizes<br />

and type of training. After so long off, we are<br />

just delighted that we can do this. It is all small<br />

steps at the moment.”<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


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SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

SUBLIME TO<br />

THE RIDICULOUS<br />

<strong>Scotland</strong> fan Dave Harley recalls his adventures on the<br />

road, including a roundabout route in the <strong>Faroe</strong>s<br />

I<br />

have always been passionate about<br />

<strong>Scotland</strong> winning at anything and<br />

football in particular.<br />

This enthusiam was heavily influenced<br />

by my folks and as a family we were<br />

always glued to the TV for all major<br />

sporting events.<br />

I remember my brother Colin and I being<br />

allowed to stay up late to watch us play<br />

in the Mexico ‘86 World Cup and wee<br />

Gordon Strachan attempting to climb<br />

the advertising board after scoring<br />

against West Germany.<br />

My first away game was the play-off<br />

against England at Wembley in 1999.<br />

I’ll never forget the atmosphere in the<br />

concourse under the stand before<br />

the game. The Tartan Army were at<br />

their absolute best and that continued<br />

throughout the entire game and for the<br />

20 minutes we were kept in after the<br />

final whistle - I think some had to be<br />

forced to leave.<br />

I was hooked and have only missed<br />

a handful of games since. If this was<br />

when we failed to qualify, I couldn’t wait<br />

until we qualified. I had no idea that<br />

wait was going to take 22 years but it is<br />

fantastic we now have the Euros to look<br />

forward to.<br />

I don’t think I lose my jinx status until<br />

I’m at a game, so hopefully Covid-19<br />

doesn’t prevent that happening this<br />

summer.<br />

Travelling with the TA is also about the<br />

lads and lassies I have met over the<br />

years, some you meet regularly at home,<br />

others you only see on trips.<br />

From old school friends who drifted<br />

away to have families to the WhatsApp<br />

groups that ping regularly throughout<br />

the day with meaningless chatter and<br />

banter.<br />

I had a game-changer in Holland in<br />

2003 when I bumped into lads I knew<br />

from the Standard Life amateur football<br />

team, who were members of the<br />

Edinburgh Tartan Army.<br />

I took the plunge to travel with them to<br />

Cardiff and then Moldova, both mental<br />

trips for different reasons, and have<br />

been travelling with them ever since.<br />

Moldova was a charter trip, a plane full<br />

of TA delayed seven hours in Edinburgh<br />

47<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

Airport. Entertaining ourselves in<br />

departure lounges is never really a<br />

problem, the ‘Flump King’ was born that<br />

day we went to Chisinau as one lad<br />

proceeded to put an entire bag of the<br />

sweets in his mouth.<br />

I soon found myself on the ETA<br />

committee organising buses and<br />

updating websites and I’m now in<br />

with the bricks, and these days also on<br />

The Association of Tartan Army Clubs<br />

committee.<br />

There are so many memories over<br />

the years. From the sublime - treating<br />

ourselves to steak after an away win<br />

in Oslo, Faddy’s goal in Paris, sitting on<br />

Destiny’s swing under the Uzupis Bridge<br />

in Vilnius after an away win. To the<br />

ridiculous - heated debates after losing<br />

away games in various cities or seeing<br />

Berti Vogts arrive at Chisinau airport, his<br />

last appearance in a <strong>Scotland</strong> blazer.<br />

Right: My<br />

wife Lynn<br />

and I at the<br />

Gibraltar<br />

game in<br />

Faro<br />

Below<br />

Left: At<br />

the airport<br />

going to the<br />

<strong>Faroe</strong>s<br />

Below Right:<br />

On the<br />

train with<br />

refreshments<br />

Bottom:<br />

ETA Minibus<br />

taking us<br />

from Tirana<br />

to Shkoder in<br />

Albania<br />

48<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

From the utter joy at Leigh Griffiths’<br />

free-kicks against England to the<br />

despair of their late equaliser, it is all<br />

part of the adventure.<br />

I love all the travel. I would have never<br />

been half the places in the world<br />

without the TA. This includes tonight’s<br />

opponents, the <strong>Faroe</strong> <strong>Islands</strong>.<br />

I’ve been once, a day trip on a chartered<br />

flight organised by the West of <strong>Scotland</strong><br />

Tartan Army, a small plane of less than<br />

30 fans was an experience.<br />

We spent a glorious summer’s day<br />

in Torshavn harbour before the bus to<br />

the game, a small but lovely place. It’s<br />

only six miles as the crow flies<br />

but took a couple of hours that day<br />

with a significant drive in the wrong<br />

direction, to get to the island of Eysturoy<br />

and Toftir.<br />

I have read that there are now tunnels<br />

between three islands, including a<br />

roundabout so it is a much more direct<br />

route. The <strong>Faroe</strong>se really show what a<br />

small country can do, it is a beautiful<br />

place that I look forward to going back<br />

to later this year.<br />

Fingers crossed the game will be played<br />

in the national stadium in Torshavn. We<br />

slightly exorcised the ghost of the 2-2<br />

draw (2002) the day I was in the <strong>Faroe</strong>s,<br />

with a 2-0 win but no <strong>Scotland</strong> fan is<br />

desperate to return to Toftir.<br />

I also met my wife Lynn at a TA charity<br />

event in Edinburgh, organised for the<br />

Ukraine game in 2006. What the Tartan<br />

Army Sunshine Appeal and Tartan<br />

Army Children’s Charity continue to do<br />

is fantastic and is a real credit to the<br />

Tartan Army.<br />

Lynn was just along for the good cause<br />

but probably knows more about football<br />

now than she could ever have imagined<br />

and boasts a 100 per cent record for<br />

<strong>Scotland</strong> - three games and three wins.<br />

A number of us took our better halves<br />

and kids to the Algarve for the Gibraltar<br />

Above:<br />

Watching<br />

the action<br />

unfold in<br />

Slovenia<br />

Right: Kilts<br />

on whatever<br />

the weather,<br />

this time in<br />

Leichtenstein<br />

halfway up a<br />

mountain<br />

game in 2015, a different experience but<br />

still a great laugh.<br />

Our trip featured an adults versus kids<br />

match in the garden of one of the villas,<br />

a very close game until Stevie Cook in<br />

goal nipped to the bar at a crucial point.<br />

The kids won and they loved it!<br />

That is a challenge I hope the Euros<br />

helps solve: getting the younger<br />

generation behind <strong>Scotland</strong> and into the<br />

TA so they get to experience what I have<br />

been loving for over 20 years.<br />

A win tonight takes us closer to the<br />

Holy Grail of a World Cup and another<br />

chance for the team to gel ahead of the<br />

Euros.<br />

The Steve Clarke effect has got us<br />

going. He is building a team hard to beat<br />

that we are all behind - the summer is<br />

Hampden, Wembley and beyond…<br />

49<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


SCOTLAND v FAROE ISLANDS / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP<br />

50<br />

MANAGER:<br />

Steve Clarke<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

Craig Gordon<br />

Heart of Midlothian<br />

David Marshall<br />

Derby County<br />

Jon McLaughlin<br />

Rangers<br />

Andrew Considine<br />

Aberdeen<br />

Declan Gallagher<br />

Motherwell<br />

Grant Hanley<br />

Norwich City<br />

Jack Hendry<br />

KV Oostende<br />

Scott McKenna<br />

Nottingham Forest<br />

Stephen O’Donnell<br />

Motherwell<br />

Liam Palmer<br />

Sheffield Wednesday<br />

Andy Robertson<br />

Liverpool<br />

Greg Taylor<br />

Celtic<br />

Kieran Tierney<br />

Arsenal<br />

Stuart Armstrong<br />

Southampton<br />

Ryan Christie<br />

Celtic<br />

John Fleck<br />

Sheffield United<br />

John McGinn<br />

Aston Villa<br />

Callum McGregor<br />

Celtic<br />

Kenny McLean<br />

Norwich City<br />

Scott McTominay<br />

Manchester United<br />

Che Adams<br />

Southampton<br />

Lyndon Dykes<br />

Queens Park Rangers<br />

Ryan Fraser<br />

Newcastle United<br />

Oliver McBurnie<br />

Sheffield United<br />

Kevin Nisbet<br />

Hibernian<br />

FAROE ISLANDS<br />

MANAGER:<br />

Hakan Ericson<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

O<br />

Gunnar Nielsen<br />

FH<br />

Teitur Gestsson<br />

HB<br />

Tórður Thomsen<br />

NSÍ<br />

Viljormur Davidsen<br />

Vejle<br />

Odmar Faero<br />

KÍ<br />

Sonni Nattestad<br />

Dundalk<br />

Rógvi Baldvinsson<br />

Bryne<br />

Heini Vatnsdal<br />

KÍ<br />

Ári Mohr Jónsson<br />

Sandnes Ulf<br />

Jóannes Danielsen<br />

KÍ<br />

Petur Knudsen<br />

NSÍ<br />

Hallur Hansson<br />

Horsens<br />

Jóannes Bjartalíð<br />

KÍ<br />

Brandur Hendriksson Olsen<br />

Helsingborg<br />

Gilli Rólantsson Sørensen<br />

Odd<br />

Sølvi Vatnhamar<br />

Víkingur<br />

Gunnar Vatnhamar<br />

Víkingur<br />

Patrik Johannesen<br />

EIK<br />

Meinhard Olsen<br />

Bryne<br />

Dan í Soylu<br />

HB<br />

Tróndur Jensen<br />

NSÍ<br />

Jákup Andreasen<br />

KÍ<br />

Heðin Hanse<br />

HB<br />

Klamint Olsen<br />

NSÍ<br />

Jóan Símun Edmundsson<br />

Arminia Bielefeld<br />

HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021


@TennentsLager<br />

TENNENT’S AND THE RED T ARE REGISTERED<br />

TRADEMARKS OF C&C GROUP PLC.

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