US EditionFaroe Islands part-timers and crime novelist coach are dreaming of the World Cup
The Faroe Islands, ranked 127th by FIFA, must surpass the Czech Republic's result to reach the World Cup playoffs, marking unprecedented progress for the small nation.
- On Friday, the Faroe Islands face Croatia in a last group qualifier, but even beating Croatia would not guarantee a playoff spot for next year's tournament without bettering the Czech Republic's result against Gibraltar.
- With a population of 55,000, a coach who writes crime novels and a largely part-time squad, tiny Faroe Islands nevertheless have a stunning shot at qualifying.
- They beat the Czech Republic 2-1 last month at the national stadium, which holds 6,000 seats, and Croatia managed only a 1-0 win in Torshavn in September.
- To reach the playoffs, the Faroe Islands must better the Czech Republic's result against Gibraltar, and Klakstein said a Faroes win in Croatia would be `one of the biggest results ever`, despite heavy losses in 1994 and 2022.
- Coach Eydun Klakstein framed the run with the line `Against the wind, against the odds.` and youth development with three-on-three matches plus staff say they're more informed than 10 years ago.
15 Articles
15 Articles
It would be nothing less than a sensation if this scenario were to occur. Faroe Islands continue to believe in the chance to participate in a football World Cup for the first time. The great underdog from the north of Europe would have to "get at least one point against Croatia today (from 20.45 – here live) and then hope for protection from Gibraltar – but not enough ... That Faroe Islands can be an unpleasant opponent, of which Austria can sin…
Associated Press News
Faroe Islands part-timers and crime novelist coach are dreaming of the World Cup
With a population of 55,000, a coach who writes crime novels and a squad of part-time players, tiny Faroe Islands has a stunning shot at qualifying for the World Cup.
It's not just the Icelandic national team boys who dream of a place in the World Cup play-offs, because our neighbors in the Faroe Islands still have a small chance of reaching second place.
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