Scotland v Faroe Islands
European Qualifiers for FIFA World Cup 2022 Hampden Park, Glasgow Wednesday 31st March, 2021 | KO 7.45pm
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 />
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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
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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
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13<br />
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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 />
HAMPDEN PARK / WEDNESDAY, 31 MARCH 2021
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
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