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.Greece 0–1 Faroe Islands, BBC Sport, 14 November 2014

On 13 June 2015, the teams met in the return match at Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn. The Faroe Islands won again with a 2–1 scoreline.Faroe Islands defeat Greece again, UEFA.com, 13 June 2015 The games are considered by many Greeks to be one of their most humiliating defeats in international football,Greece reeling after Faroe Islands football humiliation, Bangkok Post, 14 June 2015 while many Faroese people consider the matches to be one of their greatest triumphs.

Background 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.Faroe Islands snatch sensational win in Greece, Eurosport, 15 November 2014 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 2001Weekend Recap - Faroe Islands Win in Greece, Footy Fair, 2014 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 Details

GK 1 Orestis KarnezisRB 15 Vasilis Torosidis (c)CB 4 Kostas Manolas CB 5 Vangelis MorasLB 3 Nikolaos Karabelas DM 2 Giannis ManiatisDM 22 Andreas SamarisAM 8 Panagiotis KoneAM 10 Lazaros ChristodoulopoulosCF 18 Nikos Karelis CF 17 Theofanis Gekas Substitutes:FW 23 Stefanos Athanasiadis DF 16 Charalampos Mavrias MF 9 Petros Mantalos Manager: Claudio Ranieri GK 1 Gunnar NielsenCB 4 Atli Gregersen CB 7 Fróði Benjaminsen (c)CB 5 Sonni NattestadRM 2 Jónas Tór NæsCM 8 Brandur Hendriksson CM 6 Hallur Hansson LM 3 Viljormur DavidsenAM 10 Christian Holst AM 16 Sølvi VatnhamarCF 11 Jóan Símun Edmundsson Substitutes:MF 13 Pól Jóhannus Justinussen DF 18 Odmar Færø FW 15 Klæmint Olsen Manager: Lars Olsen

Match rules 90 minutes. Maximum of three substitutions.

Aftermath The result caused the sacking of head coach Claudio Ranieri,Greece sack Claudio Ranieri after Faroe Islands humiliation, Eurosport, 15 November 2014 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 the sports.

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

2015 match

Details

GK 1 Gunnar NielsenCB 4 Atli Gregersen CB 7 Fróði Benjaminsen (c) CB 5 Sonni Nattestad RM 22 Bárður Hansen CM 8 Brandur Hendriksson CM 6 Hallur HanssonLM 9 Gilli Rólantsson AM 10 Christian Holst AM 14 Sølvi VatnhamarCF 11 Jóan Símun Edmundsson Substitutes:DF 2 Jóhan Troest Davidsen DF 15 Odmar Færø MF 20 René Joensen Manager: Lars Olsen GK 1 Orestis KarnezisRB 15 Vasilis Torosidis (c) CB 4 Kostas ManolasCB 19 Sokratis PapastathopoulosLB 3 Kostas StafylidisDM 22 Andreas SamarisRM 18 Giannis Fetfatzidis CM 8 Panagiotis Kone CM 10 Lazaros Christodoulopoulos LM 14 Nikos Karelis CF 9 Kostas MitroglouSubstitutes:MF 7 Sotiris Ninis MF 17 Dimitris Kolovos FW 20 Taxiarchis Fountas Manager: 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 Greece national team coach Sergio Markarián resigned in the following month, having lasted only two matches in charge.

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

External links