RATTLED OLI FEARED 10-GOAL NIGHTMARE

OLI JOHANESSEN admitted he went through half-time hell, fearing Scotland would hit the Faroes for TEN.

With his side already five goals down, skipper Johanessen was convinced he was about to suffer a nightmare that would haunt him forever.

He said: "We didn't know what to do. We'd lost six goals to Georgia in our first qualifying tie and I was in a state because I thought Scotland were good enough to go beyond that and take double figures off us.

"I was trying not to think too much about it but I was feeling very down at half-time.

"Scotland are a better team than Georgia. They are faster and have more ability. They're good enough to be challengers in the group."

But Johanessen insisted Walter Smith's side were too physical.

He said: "I was angry because there were a lot of elbows flying. The referee saw it and I complained but he refused to do anything."

Even after being hit again for six, keeper Jakup Mikkelsen insists he has the best job in the world.

The former Partick Thistle No.1 runs the risk of lumbago after losing 12 goals in his past two matches.

He admitted the defeat by Scotland had been "horrible" but added: "This job can be a lot of fun as well - and at least you always have a lot to do.

"I sat in the dressing room at half-time and feared we would lose even more goals.

"Five was way too many to concede in one half but I've never lost more than six in one game.

"However, Scotland were very good in the first 45 and found a lot of space in which to play, although we were guilty of leaving too many gaps between our defence and midfield.

"Everything went their way but I've never seen Scotland play as well as this before.

"There is a lot of quality in their team but it was no great surprise because we saw their potential when we watched a tape of their Kirin Cup game against Bulgaria.

"Everyone knows we're not going to qualify but hopefully we can help Scotland by picking up points against other teams in the group."

Mikkelsen dismissed suggestions minnow states such as the Faroes should be made to pre-qualify to win the right to play bigger nations.

Andorra shipped five to England, Malta lost five to Bosnia and Cyprus conceded six to Slovakia.

But Mikkelsen said: "It's arrogant when people suggest that. It's very rare teams get an easy game when they come to the Faroes.

"In recent years we've made big improvements and, whern we lose, scorelines such as 2-0 or 3-1 tend to be the norm.

"We have become better over the years because we are allowed to play and learn against the best sides."

Taken from the Daily Record