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2004 European Championships
GERMANY 2 - FAROES 1
Report from David Jutson in Germany 16 October 2002
It was a wet and windy October evening in Hannover when the Faroese and German National football teams met in the group 5 qualification game for the 2004 European Championships.
Although the Faroese supporters were mostly concentrated in one block to the south west of the stadium, Faroese flags were visible everywhere in the crowd. Most of the German fans that I spoke to were very impressed that so many Faroese fans had come. One told me that if Germany had sent the same percentage of its population as fans to a game, them the crowd would have been over 1.5 million!
When the game kicked off, it seemed to be almost instantly over as Germany were awarded a penalty within the first 30 seconds. However, there was no dropping of heads. The Faroese team fought for every ball and showed a degree of skill and commitment that the Germans sadly lacked. It was as if having scored the first goal, they expected the Faroese to crumble away and allow them to score at will. But that didn't happen as the Germans relaxed - too early.
From my seat in a German supported enclosure, I could hear the frustrations and complaints of the fans as their team missed chance after chance due to the poor performance of the German team and the great saves that Mikkelsen made.
As the first half progressed, play slowly moved from mainly in the Faroese half to the halfway line, and then into the German half with the Faroese attack being more inventive and energetic than the German defence.
The Faroese goal (an own goal) scored just before half time was fully deserved, and if the defender, Friedrich hadn't put it into his own net, the Faroese attacker, who he was marking, would certainly have scored. For me, it was a difficult moment because I was the only fan in the enclosure on his feet cheering. Almost immediately, I became aware of a large number of hostile looks directed my way. Luckily, the German fans were angrier with Friedrich than me!!!
From the start of the second half, the German team was more dynamic, but they lacked the understanding required by a good team and passes were either missed or so badly "telegraphed" that the Faroese team could easily read play and intercept them. However, inevitably the speed and skill of the German forwards showed and Klose broke the deadlock by heading in Germany's second goal.
Even this didn't seem to demoralise the Faroese team who harried and hassled the Germans clearly unsettling them. The Faroese team built on their confidence by defending well and retaining possession. Eventually, Elttor found himself with only the German goalkeeper, Kahn, to beat but unfortunately, the ball hit the post and skidded the wrong way and out of play. This was the last real chance for the Faroese.
The match was relatively good-natured with only three yellow cards being given. At the end, the Faroese team came across to their supporters to thank them for their support. It was well deserved as the 500 had out-sung and out-chanted the 35,000 German supporters throughout the match.
In what a local supporter called "A very rare occurrence", the German supporters sportingly stood up and applauded the Faroese team. Again, well deserved.
David Jutson
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The photos at the top of the page are: 1. What's all this talk about minnows? 2. Faroes 2 v Scotland 2 September 2002 3. Statue outside stadium in Tórshavn |
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