Buffeted by political storms and excluded from continental federations, Greenland find their chances are limited but a tournament in Croatia is a priceless opportunity
G
reenland’s futsal players string out in a line before angling their bodies to the left, facing the flag on the far wall. Nobody averts his gaze as the strains of their national anthem fill the hall. The red-and-white-halved banner, with its reverse-coloured semi‑circles, hangs comfortably among those of this week’s rivals. Scotland on the right, Morocco to the left; further along, there are even representations of Uefa and Fifa.
The moment always feels special. Their long-serving coach, Rene Olsen, has been imagining it for several days. His team also know these occasions, all too rare, are to be seized. “It gives me goosebumps,” Patrick Frederiksen, one of their stars, will say later. “It’s when you realise that it is time.”
It is Thursday morning and Greenland are about to face Romania, who are ranked 36 in the world. A few hours ago, Donald Trump has appeared to row back significantly on his threat to annex the territory after a week of rapidly escalating rhetoric. The backdrop, with the intense uncertainty it has instilled in a population of almost 57,000, is lost on nobody here.
