More sheep than inhabitants: a country of around 50,000 citizens works wonders in the World Cup qualifiers!

On a patch of land barely 1,500 square kilometers wide, around 80,000 sheep roam freely - more than the number of people living there. Just 50,000 souls call the Faroe Islands their home, most of them in the tiny capital of Torshavn. The entire country has fewer than 15,000 males younger than 40.

So, it's no wonder we call them a footballing miracle.

Because the Faroe Islands - yes, the Faroe Islands! - defeated the Czech Republic 2-1 on Sunday night, just a few days after crushing Montenegro 4-0.

When the World Cup qualifying draw was made, not even the boldest dreamers gave them a chance. The Faroes belonged to football's smallest nations. And yet, with one round left to play, they can still dream of the playoff. The odds are less than one percent, true - but for coach Eydun Klakstein, this campaign is already a triumph.

In a land of farmers and fishermen, Klakstein has built something extraordinary in just a few months. Appointed in February as a temporary caretaker, the 50-year-old was expected merely to steady the ship. Instead, he's made it sail. Three straight victories - over Gibraltar twice, then Montenegro and Czechia - have turned the Faroes into the story of the qualifiers.

Whether or not the fairytale continues, it hardly matters. The Faroese have already won, against expectations, against limitations, against the odds.

Klakstein knows his squad isn't filled with stars. Most of his players are home-based, though a few like Hannes Sorensen (Triglav), Andrias Edmundsson (Wisla Plock), Martin Agnarson (Aarhus), Gilli Sorensen (Grimsby), and Joannes Bjartalid (Fredrikstad) play abroad. Still, they fight like equals, not outsiders.

Their football isn't about glamour, but about pride. About spirit. About a small team daring to dance among giants.

And as the Faroese prepare to face Croatia in the ultimate round, one thing is already certain - they've shown the world that even in a land where sheep outnumber people, dreams can still be limitless.

WC QUALIFIERS - EUROPE

Saturday

Latvia - Andorra 2-2 (1-1)

/Zelenkovs 41, Gutkovskis 55 pen - San Nicolas 33, Bryan Olivera 78/

Hungary - Armenia 2-0 (0-0)

/Lukacs 56, Gruber 90+4/

Norway - Israel 5-0 (3-0)

/Khalaili 18 (og), Nachmias 28 (og), Haaland 27, 63, 72/

Bulgaria - Turkey 1-6 (1-1)

/Kirilov 13 - Guller 11, Popov 49 (og), Yildiz 51, 56, Celik 65, Kahveci 90+3/

Estonia - Italy 1-3 (0-2)

/Sappinen 76 - Kean 4, Retegui 38, Esposito 74/

Portugal - R. Ireland 1-0 (0-0)

/Neves 90+1/

Serbia - Albania 0-1 (0-1)

/Manaj 45+1/

Spain - Georgia 2-0 (1-0)

/Pino 24, Oyarzabal 64/

Sunday

San Marino - Cyprus 0-4 (0-1)

/Loizou 9, Andreou 59, Kastanos 57 pen, Kakouilis 79/

Faroe Islands - Czech Republic 2-1 (0-0)

/Sorensen 67, Agnarsson 81 - Karabec 78/

Nethelands - Finland 4-0 (3-0)

/Malen 8, Van Dijk 17, Depay 38 pen, Gakpo 84/

Scotland - Belarus 2-1 (1-0)

/Adams 15, McTominay 84 - Kuchko 90+6/

Croatia - Gibraltar 3-0 (1-0)

/Fruk 30, Sucic 78, Erlic 90+6/

Denmark - Greece 3-1 (3-0)

/Hojlund 21, Andersen 40, Damsgaard 41 - Tzolis 63/

Lithuania - Poland 0-2 (0-1)

/Szymanski 15, Lewandowski 64/

Romania - Austria 1-0 (0-0)

/Ghita 90+5/

Monday

21.45: (15.0) Iceland (7.25) France (1.18)

21.45: (1.32) Macedonia (4.80) Kazakhstan (11.0)

21.45: (8.00) Northern Ireland (5.30) Germany (1.35)

21.45: (1.33) Slovakia (4.90) Luxembourg (10.5)

21.45: (5.30) Slovenia (3.60) Switzerland (1.70)

21.45: (1.33) Sweden (5.00) Kosovo* (10.0)

21.45: (1.25) Ukraine (6.00) Azerbaijan (11.0)

21.45: (4.90) Wales (3.60) Belgium (1.75)

***odds are subject to change***