Faroe Islands v Scotland

[DavidMc]

V

Faroe Islands v Scotland
Svangaskard Stadium, Toftir
Wednesday June 6th,
Euro 2008 Qualifier

Scotland travel to Toftir where they must defeat the Faroe Islands on 6 June to maintain their challenge in the Euro 2008 qualifying group. Kick-off time for that match has been confirmed as 5.15 pm, and it will be shown live on Sky Sports in the UK for supporters who are unable to travel.

SCOTLAND SQUAD FOR FAROES MATCH

Goalkeepers
Craig Gordon (Heart of Midlothian)
Allan McGregor (Rangers)
Iain Turner (Everton)

Defenders
Graham Alexander (Preston North End)
Russell Anderson (Aberdeen)
Gary Caldwell (Celtic)
Alan Hutton (Rangers)
Jay McEveley (Derby County)
Stephen McManus (Celtic)
Gary Naysmith (Everton)
Steven Pressley (Celtic)
David Weir (Rangers)

Midfield
Charlie Adam (Rangers)
Scott Brown (Hibernian)
Barry Ferguson (Rangers)
Darren Fletcher (Manchester United)
Paul Hartley (Celtic)
Lee McCulloch (Wigan Athletic)
Gary Teale (Derby County)

Forwards
Craig Beattie (Celtic)
Kris Boyd (Rangers)
James McFadden (Everton)
Shaun Maloney (Aston Villa)
Kenny Miller (Celtic)

[alansmithy14]

thats an easy win for any team but ireland almost got a tie with them but we won in the last minute

[DavidMc]

Match news and views to follow shortly..........

[alansmithy14]

when are they playing??

[DavidMc]

the game isnt until Wednesday kick-off 5:15. Will be posting news very shortly.

[LAF]

Lee McCulloch is out with ankle injury.

Maybe Naismith will get played on the left?

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Scotland to win this.Faroe Islands is one of the weakest teams of all teams in qualifications groups.

[Doc-Bhoy]

Italy struggled to get a result so I wouldn't take this team lightly.

[LAF]

Italy missed alot of chances though.

We shouldn't take them lightly. Although the Austria display was a good sign.

[DavidMc]

We cant afford to take them lightly, a professional job still has to be done. I think Naismith should be given a chance.

[DavidMc]

Scotland manager Alex McLeish

Scotland manager Alex McLeish is in positive mood ahead of the Euro 2008 qualifier against the Faroe Islands.

The Scots have managed just one victory in three visits to Toftir but McLeish said: "We are not thinking about anything other than winning.

"We have an entitlement to confidence because of our performances and the standard of players we have.

"It will be a tough game and it has been tough for us in the past here, but we have come here to try to win."

Italy's narrow weekend victory over Faroe Islands will ensure there is no Scottish complacency in Toftir on Wednesday.

"When you look at all the international teams who have come here, have any of them found it easy?" added McLeish.

"The Georgians came here at the beginning of the campaign and won 6-0 but everybody has toiled since then.

''We are confident but giving the Faroes the respect they deserve ''

"That's why it's tough. It's not only tough for Scotland, it was tough here for the Czech Republic and Germany, then the Italians scraped a 2-1 win.

"The important thing is to win the game. You can struggle and still win the game.

"We would like to win the game by playing the way we have been playing but if we have to win it another way then we will take that."

Scotland have been embarrassed twice in Toftir, drawing games there in 1999 and 2002.

However, McLeish claims the current crop of players will not dwell on past results. "Nobody has spoken about that because you don't look back, you look forward," he added.

"Players learn from setbacks, managers learn from setbacks. In any walk of life, you learn from things that have gone on in the past whether they be good, bad or indifferent."

Weekend victories for Italy and France pushed the Scots down to fourth place in Group B.

But their preparations were given a boost last week with a fine 1-0 victory away from home in a friendly with Euro 2008 hosts Austria.

"The group is looking a little bit more the way the seedings are but we can still hopefully spring a surprise," said McLeish.

"I don't think anybody would be backing against France and Italy come the end of the group but we want to have something to say about that.

"We have to approach this game positively. It's the last game of the season and the players can then relax and go on holiday.

"We have given this game total, meticulous analysis and we are making sure the players go into the game buoyed up and that they will give us the same application and attitude they have done since we came into the job."

Scotland coach Roy Aitken described Italy's struggle as "a reality check" and he believes that the part-time hosts will fancy they can cause an upset.

"We are confident but giving the Faroes the respect they deserve," he said.

"They are a well-organised, disciplined team who are hard to break down, as was shown in the game at the weekend against Italy."

[DavidMc]

Looks like Shaun Maloney is being handed a start against the Faroes tomorrow night, which could turn out to be a good decision from big Eck as Maloney has the speed and skill to drag around defenders, which will give Kris Boyd the opportunity to grab himself a few more international goals.

We must go for goals as soon as the match starts.

[LAF]

Hopefully Maloney's final ball is better than against Austria. Most of his crosses were awful.

[DavidMc]

Faroe Islands 0 v Scotland 2

Scotland cruised to victory over Faroe Islands in Toftir's Svangaskard Stadium to maintain their hopes of Euro 2008 qualification from Group B.

Alex McLeish's side went ahead with Shaun Maloney marking his international debut with a sublime set-piece goal on the half-hour mark.

Garry O'Connor forced home a second after 34 minutes to ease the pressure.

Christian Jacobsen fired against the post for the Faroes late on as Scotland became more relaxed in the second half.

The rugged, clifftop village held little threat for Scotland in the end, unlike previous shock draws in 1999 and 2002.

It was far from a vintage display, but three precious points were secured in the continuing group contest with France, Italy and Ukraine.

Scotland captain Barry Ferguson banished pre-match fitness doubts to be named in the starting line-up.

As expected, Shaun Maloney replaced the injured Lee McCulloch was forced to withdraw from the squad with an ankle injury.

Garry O'Connor and Kris Boyd resumed their potentially prosperous strike partnership after an eye-catching performance in last week's 1-0 friendly win in Austria.

Faroes boss Jogvan Martin Olsen had all his best players available, including defenders Jon Roi Jacobsen and Suni Olsen, who both play their club football with Danish side Aalborg.

There was an early injury worry for the Faroes when Oli Johannessen was stretchered off, only to return to the action, with the Scots predictably dominating possession.

Mikkelsen - who had a brief spell in Scottish football during 2003/2004 with Partick Thistle - brought out a rather theatrical save from a Shaun Maloney free-kick from distance in the first real opportunity.

The in-form O'Connor should have put McLeish's men ahead, but the Lokomotiv Moscow forward's shot cannoned off the base of the post, and the home side survived.

An even better chance went astray in the 28th minute when Boyd blazed an angled volley over the crossbar, and the Rangers strikers' frustration was obvious.

It mattered little as the visitors went ahead two minutes later.

Maloney stepped up and swerved a free kick over the Faroese wall - and it was absolutely precise, leaving Mikkelsen with no chance whatsover.

Scotland began to play with more verve and were rewarded with a second after an impressive build-up.

Paul Hartley cut in from the right and flicked the ball into the path of midfield partner Darren Fletcher.

The Manchester United player's cross found O'Connor with a free aerial opportunity, and the bustling striker made no mistake with the rebound following Mikkelsen's save.

Predictably, the North Atlantic hosts struggle to impose any pressure on the Scots' rearguard, and Craig Gordon was a virtual spectator in goal.

However, Martin Olsen's outfit began the second half brightly, and almost caught Scotland sleeping with a couple of attacks.

Jakob Borg hooked just over the crossbar from a Jon Roi Jacobsen cross, before Christian Holst stabbed the ball inches wide.

Gordon made a crucial stop in the 62nd minute, saving at the feet of Borg who evaded the attention of Stephen McManus.

The Faroes belied their minnow status and were unfortunate not to pull a goal back when flicked header came off the upright and into the arms of a relieved Gordon.

Ferguson received a needless caution for a challenge on Olsen, ensuring a suspension for the next qualifier against Lithuania.

Jacobsen almost made Scotland sweat with just two minutes remaining, beating the offside trap only to drill the ball against the post.

With no consolation strike forthcoming for the hosts, the Scots escaped with the points, unlike their notable past failures.

[DavidMc]

well done Scotland. I know we should really be expecting to win this type of game, but better sides than us have struggled in the Faroes (Czech Rep, Germany to name a couple) We have given ourselves a good chance of picking up maximum points in our 2 internationals this week. McLeish's decision to play Shaun Maloney paid off and we are still in with a shout of qualifying for Euro 2008.

Match Pics to follow...........