ALL THE FUN OF THE FAROES
Patient kids get their reward after minnows park entire fishing fleet
SCOTLAND’S youngsters kept their heads against a side who would have had most opponents tearing their hair out.
Scot Gemmill hailed his Under-17 stars’ mental strength as they refused to panic when their Euros bid was threatening to hit the Faroe Islands rocks in the opening Group B game.
The minnows didn’t just park the bus they had their entire fishing fleet blocking the dock before supersub Innes Cameron sunk them with his first touch after coming off the bench – and Jack Aitchison sealed a second to send the Scots on their way.
It took the youngsters almost an hour to make the breakthrough as the Islanders shut up shop and tried to hang on for a point.
But Gemmill insisted he wasn’t panicking because he has total belief his boys weren’t freaking out either.
The coach said: “It was a really accomplished performance for such a young set of players to have the maturity and discipline but also the quality to stick to the game plan.
“They had the belief the chances and the goal would come.
“Lesser players or weaker teams would have panicked and started to divert from the game plan. They showed they have the confidence to stick with it and get the result.
“We were as detailed as we could be in our preparation and we spoke about what would happen if it was 0-0 at half-time or after an hour.
“We addressed it and for the young players to take that on board and execute it in this environment was really impressive.
“I was trying to think about the plans if it remained 0-0 for much longer, working out the risks we might have needed in order to win.
“That’s what you need to do as a coach. You don’t win games by just accepting what’s going on. We were ready to make the substitution and thankfully it paid off.”
Scotland had to have supreme patience against the stubborn Faroes kids who stunned Slovakia and Czech Republic to qualify for their first major championship at any level.
The Scots passed and probed but struggled to break them down – and any time they got through they ran into a keeper having the game of his life.
Bjarti Vitalis Mork was drafted in for a debut and the back-up made several stunning saves – including one reflex block from Aitchison that had to be seen to be believed.
Sebastian Ross hit the side-netting before the break and it was an uncomfortable interval for Scotland.
A couple more half chances came and went after the break and at that stage it was nervy for Gemmill’s kids. But they didn’t get spooked. Killie’s Cameron was thrown on to lend a hand up top and his impact was immediate. Jonny Mitchell’s ripper of a switched ball set full-back Jordan Houston loose down the left. He carved open the Faroes backline with a superb low cross to tee up Cameron to pounce from close range.
Cue huge sighs of relief in the Scotland camp – and the small Tartan Army detail who had pitched up in full kilted gear and gave a few blasts of the bagpipes.
The goal knocked the wind out of the minnows and they were blown away soon after as Aitchison wriggled free and blasted a second through the keeper to seal the points.
The Islanders were out of puff and poor Asbjon Hedinsson was sent packing late on after picking up a second yellow for crashing in to Glenn Middleton, who had given the kid a torrid time.
It was job done and now on to bigger challenges for the young Scots.
Gemmill admitted it was a no-win kind of game. Scotland needed to get three points on the board by hook or by crook but now have the knockout stages withing their sights.
If they can beat Hungary on Saturday they will be through even before facing France in the final group game.
Gemmill said: “These games pose different challenges and a different kind of performance is required. There was huge expectancy to win.
“We knew we would dominate the possession but the resilience and defensive mentality had to be there because you can always get hit on the counter attack.
“We’ve played recently in the elite rounds and they were three different games as well.
“The players are showing a real resilience to show they can overcome these different types of challenges. The next one is to prepare for Hungary.”
SCOTLAND – McCracken, Houston, Welsh, Mayo, Church, Watt, Mitchell, Ross (Hutchison), Smith (Cameron), Aitchison, Middleton (Reid).