The Finnish men’s national football team took their opening victory in the League of Nations when it knocked down Joel Pohjanpalo in Montenegro.
7.6. 22: 09 • Updated June 7. 22:13
– What’s better than showing it with your own success.
Owls hot striker Joel Pohjanpalo had one smile after a winning match against Montenegro. Pohjanpalo was responsible for both goals of Finland when Finland grabbed its opening victory in the League of Nations from Montenegro 2-0.
– Exactly what the game, every time it goes to the field, wants to score goals. The team’s result comes first, but immediately second to score, Pohjanpalo said.
See the moods of the Owners after a victorious game in Montenegro:
The fiery striker did not hide his disappointment after Saturday’s opening match of the League of Peoples. He warmed up practically the whole second period, but was allowed to watch from the side of the exchange bench when Finland was in the 1–1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosnia made its equalizer in extra time and Finland was the only one to hit Teemu Pukki penalty kick.
The supporters have demanded 16 Finnish strikers to hit the field in Turkey already against Bosnia. Head coach Markku Kanerva however, had decided otherwise.
– As a player, I’m really disappointed I didn’t play. The coach always has his own preferences and he makes his decisions accordingly. The player must always respect that, Pohjanpalo said in an interview with Sport on Monday.
After the match in Montenegro, Pohjanpalo said he fully understood the recycling of players due to the close pace of the match. Owls will play four games in eleven days.
– Four games in a short time, no sense. Crazy thing. Rive (head coach Kanerva) makes the decisions, it is his responsibility whether they are right or wrong. Of course you respect that as a player, Pohjanpalo said.
The next match for the owls is four days from Saturday in Romania. The question of whether Pohjanpalo believes his name is among the players opening at eleven on Saturday made the striker smile.
– I don’t think two paints usually have an opening. After all, Rive decides them and Rive’s preferences go away, so Rive has to ask who is playing in those matches, but as a man of two goals, you may not have to give screens, or maybe three goals would have been better for that!
On Tuesday, the supporters got what they wanted when Pohjanpalo managed to score twice and played a full 90 minutes. Fans of both teams had been eagerly awaiting this Pohanger derby and were doing their best to outshout their opponents. That above, Pohjanpalo also hit the media after the match ended.
– Of course this is team play and the team is playing, but as an individual it is a great feeling that the spectators are excited about what I have given to the team and left on the field. There is no better feel to it.
The struggle between Finland and Romania will be seen live on TV2 on Saturday. The broadcast will start at 9 pm and the match itself will start at 9.45 pm.