FAROE ISLANDS 1-0 AUSTRIA

For much of their history, the Faroe Islands' national team had played unofficial friendly matches against opponents such as the Shetland Islands and Iceland's B-Team. Their national association was not formed until 1979, and nine years later became and member of F.I.F.A. and U.E.F.A. In 1990, the Faroe Islands entered a major international competition for the first time. Drawn to face Yugoslavia, Denmark, Northern Ireland and Austria, they were not expected to take a single point.

Not able to play their matches at home in the Faroe Islands because they had no grass pitches, all of their home matches would be played in Landskrona, Sweden. After a narrow 3-2 defeat to Iceland in a warm-up match, the Faroe Islands were ready for their first ever competitive international against an Austrian side who just months earlier had narrowly missed out on a place in the last sixteen of the World Cup in Italy.

Austria were overwhelming favourites to beat a side representing one of Europe's smallest self-governing territories, but in front of a tiny crowd of barely over 1,500 the Faroe Islands made a determined start. Inspired by bobble-hat wearing goalkeeper Jens Martin Knudsen they held the Austrians at bay throughout the first half in the face of strong pressure, and could sense that their opponents were starting to grow more frustrated.

In the second half, the Faroes started to grow in confidence and just after the hour they scored the goal that stunned European football. Torkil Nielsen beat Michael Konsel in the Austrian goal and the Faroe Islands had an astonishing lead, but still had half an hour to hold on. Austria immediately made a double substitution as they found themselves chasing a game that had been expected to be little more than a training exercise.

The Faroe Islands started to believe they could win the game, and Knudsen turned in an inspired performace in goal, dealing with everything that Austria could throw at him. Austrian legend Anton Polster could not inspire his team into a fightback, and when the final whistle went the Faroese players celebrated as if they had won the entire competition. A team of part timers in their first competitive match had beaten a nation with a proud record in international competition. The Faroe Islands went on the gain just one more point in the group, in a draw with Northern Ireland, and their first competitive result remains by far their most famous.