Frodi Benjaminsen is one of the Faroes' most
influential players (¿Sosialurin/Alvur Haraldsen)
Frodi Benjaminsen's return from suspension has given the
Faroe Islands a selection headache as Scotland prepare to revisit the
scene of a famous debacle.
'Hiding to nothing'
As Scotland prepare to take on the Faroese, minds will be racing back
to September 2002 when, under the leadership of Berti Vogts, they barely
escaped from the Toftir Stadium with a 2-2 draw. Prior to that, Scotland
also faced the Faroes in UEFA EURO 2000T qualifying, and were held to
a 1-1 draw under Craig Brown, again in Toftir. The only two members of
the Scotland squad to have played in 2002, Barry Ferguson and David Weir,
have been keeping tight-lipped about their previous trip. Winger Gary
Teale said: "We've heard a few bits but everybody knows that once
you go out there, you're on a hiding to nothing."
Tense finale
A 6-0 home win in their most recent meeting with Jogvan Martin Olsen's
side will have steadied Scottish nerves, but the Faroe Islands may feel
that another shock result is on the cards after giving world champions
Italy a nasty scare on Saturday. Filippo Inzaghi had struck in either
half to give Italy a 2-0 lead only for Rogvi Jacobsen to pull one back
and set up a tense finale. With influential midfielder Benjaminsen available
again after serving a suspension against Italy, Olsen must now decide
whether or not to shuffle his pack as the side seek a first qualifying
point. "After the effort they put in on Saturday I cannot tell Suni
Olsen or Mikkjal Thomassen that they are on the bench," he said.
Defensive reshuffle
Olsen has said that he sees 29-year-old B36 Torshavn player Benjaminsen
as a future central defensive lynchpin, although he generally plays in
midfield. He may yet be deployed alongside captain Oli Johannesen in defence
against Scotland with Jon Roi Jacobsen, who was paired with Johannesen
against Italy, reverting to left-back - his position with Danish side
Aalborg BK. "I won't decide until Wednesday," warned Olsen.
"It depends how the players recover as they put in an amazing physical
effort against Italy." Benjaminsen, meanwhile, is waiting in the
wings. "It was great how the team played on Saturday," he said.
"However, this is a new match and I hope the coach will find a place
for me."
