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2014–15 Faroe Islands v Greece football matches

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Jóan Símun Edmundsson scored the only goal of the 2014 match
Faroese players celebrating their first goal in the 2015 match

On 14 November 2014, the Greece national football team met the Faroe Islands national football team during a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match at Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, Attica, Greece. To the surprise of many, the Faroe Islands won 1–0, with the only goal of the game coming from Jóan Símun Edmundsson, causing what many consider to be one of the biggest upsets in UEFA Euro qualifying history. It was the biggest shock in terms of FIFA World Rankings, as Greece were ranked 18th and the Faroe Islands were ranked 187th.[1][2]

On 13 June 2015, the teams met in the return match at Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn. The Faroe Islands won again with a 2–1 scoreline.[3][4] The games are considered by many Greeks to be one of their most humiliating defeats in international football,[5] while many Faroese people consider the matches to be one of their greatest triumphs.

Background

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The Greece national team had taken part in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, reaching the round of 16 for the first time ever before being eliminated only on penalties by the surprising Costa Rica after a 1–1 draw in regulation time. Despite this, they didn't start well in the Euro qualifying, losing at home to Romania, drawing away with Finland and losing at home again to Northern Ireland.[6] Greece had famously won the UEFA Euro 2004 tournament as huge underdogs, although only Kostas Katsouranis was still playing for the team following the World Cup ten years later and he did not take any part against the Faroes.

The Faroe Islands team started their campaign with three defeats: at home to Finland, away to Northern Ireland, and home to Hungary. They had not won a competitive international match away from home since beating Luxembourg in 2001[7] and had only three home wins since then.

The respective populations of the countries at the time were approximately 10.93 million and 48,000.

2014 match

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Details

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Greece 0–1 Faroe Islands
Report
Attendance: 16,821
Greece
Faroe Islands
GK 1 Orestis Karnezis
RB 15 Vasilis Torosidis (c)
CB 4 Kostas Manolas Yellow card 88'
CB 5 Vangelis Moras
LB 3 Nikolaos Karabelas downward-facing red arrow 78'
DM 2 Giannis Maniatis
DM 22 Andreas Samaris
AM 8 Panagiotis Kone
AM 10 Lazaros Christodoulopoulos
CF 18 Nikos Karelis downward-facing red arrow 62'
CF 17 Theofanis Gekas downward-facing red arrow 46'
Substitutes:
FW 23 Stefanos Athanasiadis upward-facing green arrow 46'
DF 16 Charalampos Mavrias upward-facing green arrow 62'
MF 9 Petros Mantalos upward-facing green arrow 78'
Manager:
Italy Claudio Ranieri
GK 1 Gunnar Nielsen
CB 4 Atli Gregersen Yellow card 57'
CB 7 Fróði Benjaminsen (c)
CB 5 Sonni Nattestad
RM 2 Jónas Tór Næs
CM 8 Brandur Hendriksson Yellow card 33' downward-facing red arrow 88'
CM 6 Hallur Hansson Yellow card 49'
LM 3 Viljormur Davidsen
AM 10 Christian Holst downward-facing red arrow 76'
AM 16 Sølvi Vatnhamar
CF 11 Jóan Símun Edmundsson downward-facing red arrow 86'
Substitutes:
MF 13 Pól Jóhannus Justinussen upward-facing green arrow 76'
DF 18 Odmar Færø upward-facing green arrow 86'
FW 15 Klæmint Olsen upward-facing green arrow 88'
Manager:
Denmark Lars Olsen

Match rules

  • 90 minutes.
  • Maximum of three substitutions.

Aftermath

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The result caused the sacking of head coach Claudio Ranieri,[8] whose next job would be manager of English club Leicester City the following July. In his first season, the club would go on to win the 2015–16 Premier League in what is also considered to be one of the biggest shocks in sports.[9][10]

Before the return fixture, the Faroe Islands suffered an away defeat to Romania, while Greece got a goalless away draw against Hungary.

2015 match

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Details

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Faroe Islands 2–1 Greece
Report
Attendance: 4,731
Faroe Islands
Greece
GK 1 Gunnar Nielsen
CB 4 Atli Gregersen Yellow card 76'
CB 7 Fróði Benjaminsen (c) Yellow card 27'
CB 5 Sonni Nattestad Yellow card 5'
RM 22 Bárður Hansen Yellow card 55'
CM 8 Brandur Hendriksson Yellow card 84'
CM 6 Hallur Hansson
LM 9 Gilli Rólantsson downward-facing red arrow 13'
AM 10 Christian Holst downward-facing red arrow 74'
AM 14 Sølvi Vatnhamar
CF 11 Jóan Símun Edmundsson downward-facing red arrow 90+2'
Substitutes:
DF 2 Jóhan Troest Davidsen upward-facing green arrow 13'
DF 15 Odmar Færø upward-facing green arrow 74'
MF 20 René Joensen upward-facing green arrow 90+2'
Manager:
Denmark Lars Olsen
GK 1 Orestis Karnezis
RB 15 Vasilis Torosidis (c) Yellow card 57'
CB 4 Kostas Manolas
CB 19 Sokratis Papastathopoulos
LB 3 Kostas Stafylidis
DM 22 Andreas Samaris
RM 18 Giannis Fetfatzidis downward-facing red arrow 71'
CM 8 Panagiotis Kone downward-facing red arrow 81'
CM 10 Lazaros Christodoulopoulos downward-facing red arrow 46'
LM 14 Nikos Karelis Yellow card 90'
CF 9 Kostas Mitroglou
Substitutes:
MF 7 Sotiris Ninis upward-facing green arrow 46'
MF 17 Dimitris Kolovos upward-facing green arrow 71'
FW 20 Taxiarchis Fountas upward-facing green arrow 81'
Manager:
Uruguay Sergio Markarián

Match rules

  • 90 minutes.
  • Maximum of three substitutions.

Seven Greek players (goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis, Kostas Manolas, Panagiotis Kone, Lazaros Christodoulopoulos, Nikos Karelis, captain Vasilis Torosidis and Andreas Samaris) took part in both matches; on the Faroese side, nine players (goalkeeper Gunnar Nielsen, Atli Gregersen, Sonni Nattestad, Hallur Hansson, captain Fróði Benjaminsen, Brandur Hendriksson, Christian Holst, Jóan Símun Edmundsson and substitute Odmar Færø) took part in both.

Aftermath

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Greece national team coach Sergio Markarián resigned in the following month, having lasted only two matches in charge.[11]

The six points taken from the Greece fixtures were the only ones gained by the Faroese in the campaign. Greece got an away draw with Romania in September 2015 and finally won their first match on the last matchday, beating Hungary 4–3 at home, but it wasn't enough to avoid bottom place. Both teams finished with six points, the Faroes having the advantage on the head-to-head record.

References

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  1. ^ John Ashdown (19 November 2014). "Is the Faroe Islands' win over Greece the biggest shock of all time?". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  2. ^ Greece 0–1 Faroe Islands, BBC Sport, 14 November 2014
  3. ^ "Faroes humiliate Greece by sealing double in Euro 2016 qualifying". The Guardian. 14 June 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
  4. ^ Faroe Islands defeat Greece again, UEFA.com, 13 June 2015
  5. ^ Greece reeling after Faroe Islands football humiliation, Bangkok Post, 14 June 2015
  6. ^ Faroe Islands snatch sensational win in Greece, Eurosport, 15 November 2014
  7. ^ Weekend Recap - Faroe Islands Win in Greece, Footy Fair, 2014
  8. ^ Greece sack Claudio Ranieri after Faroe Islands humiliation, Eurosport, 15 November 2014
  9. ^ Will Magee (1 March 2016). "Why Leicester fans need to thank the Faroe Islands for their stunning season". Irish Mirror. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  10. ^ "Leicester City win Premier League title after Tottenham draw at Chelsea". BBC Sport. 2 May 2016. Archived from the original on 2 May 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  11. ^ Associated Press (21 July 2015). "Greece coach Sergio Markarian quits after poor Euro 2016 qualifying form". ESPN.com. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
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