Joel Pohjanpalo, who was hit in the summer 2021 EC against Denmark at Parken, did not play in the last EC qualifiers due to injuries, but now the attacker craves responsibility.
Hinn Hirvonen,
Riku Salminen
– Could someone refrain from asking about the goal last time? Joel Pohjanpalo laughs in the lobby of a hotel in Copenhagen.
The Finnish men’s national football team’s first on-site press conference in Denmark is nearing its end, and the only players there are Pohjanpalo. The Finnish striker representing the Italian side Venezia has been the most wanted interviewee in the Finnish media, and no wonder. He scored Finland’s winning goal at Parken against Denmark in a match that is remembered above all for the Danish star Christian Eriksen about fighting for his life.
Eriksen recovered and has since returned to football fields. However, he will not be seen in Denmark’s shirt on Thursday, as the superstar representing Manchester United is suffering from an injury.
No injuries as a problem
Instead, Pohjanpalo can be seen in Finland’s shirt, and he is one of the head coaches Markku Kanervan alternatives to the attack on Finland. The Finnish striker, representing Venezia, who plays in the Italian Serie B, has scored ten goals this season, but has also excelled as a goalscorer.
– This season I’ve probably given more assists in the club team than in my entire career combined, Pohjanpalo acknowledges.
One of the reasons for the good mood is that Pohjanpalo, who suffered from numerous serious injuries in his career, has been able to play healthy for a long time. Pohjanpalo was not seen in the last EC qualifiers due to injuries.
– I’ve been healthy for about two and a half seasons here. I think there was a previous injury in Berlin, and not the most serious one either. I’m in a very good mood, just last week I came to think that I haven’t missed a single training or game this year. The body is in very good shape, there will be a lot of minutes and power, Pohjanpalo commented.
The Finnish striker has a positive attitude to the question of whether it is possible that even the best Pohjanpalo of his career will be seen in the EC qualifiers starting on Thursday.
– Of course it is! Hopefully we can get off to a good start here, as a team and individually as well. Everyone knows our goal, it’s to get straight to the Games. It creates certain pressures, but we are ready for them. We are going to fight tooth and nail for a place in the race.
Denmark is considered the group’s pre-favorites, even though the team’s performances at the World Cup were not convincing. The team was at the bottom of the group behind France, Tunisia and Australia.
Now the team goes to the EC qualifiers changed, partly because of injuries.
– Of course, they have had a lot of changes in the group and now injuries. A slightly different gang will come, but a very tough bunch anyway. That has to be respected. But of course we go for the win.
Here, Huuhkajat prepares for the EC qualifying match
Huuhkajat has prepared for the European Championship qualifiers by training twice this week in Söborg, a neighboring city of Copenhagen, on the training field, which has been soaked by the rain.
The options for potential training grounds were the Finnish spokesperson by Timo Walden not enough people to join, because some of the fields in Copenhagen were still covered in snow last week.
– By no means is the field in the best condition, but it is what it is. I have trained on even worse fields! Pohjanpalo stated.
However, on Wednesday, Huuhikajat will be able to go to the familiar stadium, Copenhagen’s Parken, for pre-match training. Even on Tuesday, however, the heat lamps were in heavy use.
Huahkaji’s EC qualifying program:
Thu 23.3. at 21:45 Denmark–Finland
Sun 26.3. at 21:45 Northern Ireland–Finland
Friday 16.6. at 19:00 Finland–Slovenia
Mon 19.6. at 19:00 Finland–San Marino
Thu 7.9. at 17:00 Kazakhstan–Finland
Sun 10.9. at 19:00 Finland–Denmark
Sat 14.10. at 19:00 Slovenia–Finland
Tue 17.10. at 19:00 Finland–Kazakhstan
Friday 17.11. at 19:00 Finland–Northern Ireland
Mon 20.11. at 21:45 San Marino–Finland
will show Huuhkajie’s EC qualifiers on its channels. Live broadcast of the Denmark match on Thursday from 21:00 on TV2, Areena and the app. The match starts at 21:45.