WCQ Scouting Report: Iceland 3-0 Faroe Islands

It’s hard to keep my mind on much aside from the announcement tomorrow of our first Scotland roster under George Burley, but there is always the small matter of keeping an eye on our World Cup qualifying groupmates. All of the four nations that share Group 9 with Scotland are in action on March 26th, as we are, but one of them is keeping busy this week as well. Iceland, the last-ranked team in the group, took on fellow northern landmass (better one, some say) the Faroe Islands. Iceland went into this match ranked #89 in the world by FIFA (to the Faroes’ 193rd), and should have expected to win, especially at home. Win they did, as midfielder Jónas Guðni Sævarsson scored his first Iceland goal in his fourth cap, and striker Tryggvi Guðmundsson netted his career twelfth, in 41 appearances. Sandwiched between the two was an own goal.

Just keeping an eye on the four countries standing between Scotland and the World Cup. Remember, Georgia wasn’t ranked much better than Iceland when they beat us 2-0 in last year’s Euro qualifiers, and we all know banana peels can come in the most unlikely times and places. Hopefully that won’t be an issue with Iceland. Iceland won’t roll over at home, and I expect Scotland and all the group nations to have to work there. I have to admit, I’ve always liked teams like Iceland, and I wish them well against all the other members of the group. If you could take a point out of Holland, I’d buy a scarf. Promise.