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The riches offered to reach the group stage of the Europa League would have a transformative effect on Faroe Islands football, but could affect the competitiveness of the league, according to a former national captain.
Atli Gregersen, who won 39 games for the Faroe Islands and was captain during Brian Kerr’s time at the helm, will follow with great interest when Klaksvíkar Ítróttarfela, known as KI, meets Dundalk in the Europa League play-offs. (live on RTÉ2 & RTÉ Player from 7pm).
The Lilywhites and Shamrock Rovers reached the group stage in the last decade, but KI is the first team from the Faroe Islands to even make it to the final qualifying round.
The prize offered for Thursday’s winner at the Aviva Stadium is a financial reward of around 3 million euros and Gregersen, who retired from international football last November but still plays in his First Division. For Vikingur, ranked fourth, the consequences could be far-reaching.
“It’s the talk of the country,” he told RTÉ Radio 1’s Morning Ireland.
“Some people are worried that it will ruin the competitiveness of the Faroe Islands League in the next five to ten years. The money would blow all teams out of the water.”
“Everyone is looking at the money and I think it’s a bit sad. It’s a great opportunity for Faroese football to grow, and the same for Dundalk, it’s an opportunity to grow and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
KI caused a sensation when they eliminated Dinamo Tbilisi from the competition with a resounding 6-1 victory in Tórshavn.
We should hope that KI sits up and tries to catch Dundalk on the counter.
Having qualified for Europe for the past four years, they are a highly talented team with the ability to adapt to a higher caliber opponent, according to Gregersen.
“They are a very strong unit and the Faroese players on the team are international players. They are well organized and have been working towards that for four or five years.
“They feel very comfortable sitting down. They play with two forwards and when they get the ball they throw it into spaces. They are good with the ball and they have a lot of runners in midfield.
“In European games they have been playing risk-free. We should expect them to sit down and try to catch Dundalk on the fast break.”
These are exciting times for Faroese football. On Saturday Joan Simun Edmundsson became the first Faroese player to play and score in the Bundesliga when he came off the bench to score the winning goal for Arminia Bielefeld.
KI’s victory over Tblisi has taken them into uncharted waters as the national team began their Nations League campaign with victories over Malta and Andorra.
“Good things are happening in Faroese football right now,” added Gregersen.
“If KI makes it to the group stage, then maybe all the players will be full-time professionals. This could be a great take-off.”
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