Faroe Islands 2 v 2 Scotland.
A great result for Scotland who not only come away with a well-earned point but also majestically fought back from an early 2 goal deficit against one of he strongest teams from the middle of the North Atlantic.
The Faroe Islands fielded a strong side and had the plucky Scots on the backfoot when they took the lead after only 6 minutes. Gillian Johnsson crossed from the right and Peter Petersson, the local hairdresser, managed to get an eyebrow to the ball to send all sixteen of the home fans (not including the sheep grazing behind the goal) into raptures.
Petersson scored again in the 12th minute, the ball richoeting off his bootlace and bobbling into the top corner and Scotland realised that the Faroes were every bit as good as Brazil.
The Faroes, who had started the day as deserved leaders of Group 5 by virtue of their place in the alphabet, had recently recorded a victory over the previously undefeated Leichtenstein and carried that form into todays game. Several more first-half chances fell to the Faroes' star striker, Karl Andersson, but the one-legged 12-year-old failed to convert.
Scotland boss, Berti Vogts, could have been satisfied with keeping the score at a respectable 2-0 defeat to the group favourites but instead decided to go for broke in the second half, bringing on the fans favourite, 48-year-old Steve Crawford. Scotland dug deep and after 60 minutes, scored a fabulous goal from Paul Lambert, a beautifully mis-hit volley from 16 yards which sizzled into the back of the net via David Weirs knee and a Faroe defenders ankle.
Scotland now had their tails up and were playing at their very best, sometimes stringing together as many as 2 passes before losing control. It wasn't long before Barry Ferguson brought Scotland back onto level terms with a superb solo effort reminiscent of Maradona's famous Mexican hit, "Material Girl". A chipped cross from Crawford fell into Ferguson's path and from 12 yards, he beat no players before sending the keeper the right way to pull Scotland level.
Scotland finished thet match strongly and could have scored several more goals except for the fact that they didn't create any more actual chances.
After the match, Faroes coach Henrik Larsson reflected "It was a game of two halves, the boys done good but at the end of the day, I'm sick as a parrot."
Scotland coach, Vogts, was more upbeat, saying "Vee ver very vell organised und I am satisfied zat vee kept a clean sheet in zee second half. Not many teams vill come to zee Faroe Islands und earn a draw, och aye zee noo".
Scotland couldn't have asked for a better start to the "Group Of Death" which also features European giants Iceland and Lithuania and have now been installed as the bookies firm favourites to win Euro 2004 with odds of 1,000,000,000 to 1.
A great result for Scotland who not only come away with a well-earned point but also majestically fought back from an early 2 goal deficit against one of he strongest teams from the middle of the North Atlantic.
The Faroe Islands fielded a strong side and had the plucky Scots on the backfoot when they took the lead after only 6 minutes. Gillian Johnsson crossed from the right and Peter Petersson, the local hairdresser, managed to get an eyebrow to the ball to send all sixteen of the home fans (not including the sheep grazing behind the goal) into raptures.
Petersson scored again in the 12th minute, the ball richoeting off his bootlace and bobbling into the top corner and Scotland realised that the Faroes were every bit as good as Brazil.
The Faroes, who had started the day as deserved leaders of Group 5 by virtue of their place in the alphabet, had recently recorded a victory over the previously undefeated Leichtenstein and carried that form into todays game. Several more first-half chances fell to the Faroes' star striker, Karl Andersson, but the one-legged 12-year-old failed to convert.
Scotland boss, Berti Vogts, could have been satisfied with keeping the score at a respectable 2-0 defeat to the group favourites but instead decided to go for broke in the second half, bringing on the fans favourite, 48-year-old Steve Crawford. Scotland dug deep and after 60 minutes, scored a fabulous goal from Paul Lambert, a beautifully mis-hit volley from 16 yards which sizzled into the back of the net via David Weirs knee and a Faroe defenders ankle.
Scotland now had their tails up and were playing at their very best, sometimes stringing together as many as 2 passes before losing control. It wasn't long before Barry Ferguson brought Scotland back onto level terms with a superb solo effort reminiscent of Maradona's famous Mexican hit, "Material Girl". A chipped cross from Crawford fell into Ferguson's path and from 12 yards, he beat no players before sending the keeper the right way to pull Scotland level.
Scotland finished thet match strongly and could have scored several more goals except for the fact that they didn't create any more actual chances.
After the match, Faroes coach Henrik Larsson reflected "It was a game of two halves, the boys done good but at the end of the day, I'm sick as a parrot."
Scotland coach, Vogts, was more upbeat, saying "Vee ver very vell organised und I am satisfied zat vee kept a clean sheet in zee second half. Not many teams vill come to zee Faroe Islands und earn a draw, och aye zee noo".
Scotland couldn't have asked for a better start to the "Group Of Death" which also features European giants Iceland and Lithuania and have now been installed as the bookies firm favourites to win Euro 2004 with odds of 1,000,000,000 to 1.
Poor Denis and Gavin.
I'm Mexican and Denis is Dutch