Captain Jani Korpela and other experienced players were left aside from the Finnish national futsal team. According to Urheilu’s information, it is about conflicts between players and coaching.
The Finnish men’s national futsal team’s World Cup qualification has been rich in stages. Three qualifying matches have been ruled as Finland’s 5-0 wins due to the opponents’ unrepresentable players. The last home match against Armenia was canceled on Friday.
There have been enough events within the team as well. Futsal fans would rub their eyes when the teams released for the December qualifiers lacked experienced players. Especially the captain Jani Korpelan the lack of it has puzzled.
According to Urheilu’s information, the background lies in conflicts between the players and the coaching staff. Italian Sergio Gargelli has been the head coach of the national team since March of last year.
Reached by Urheilu, Korpela does not want to comment on the matter, but confirms that he is training in Spain with his club team Inter as usual. So it’s not about injury.
Korpela is undoubtedly the best player in Finland. His club team Inter is one of the most successful in Europe. Inter is currently fifth in the Spanish league. On Saturday, Korpela played in the Spanish league match against Noia.
Urheilu reached out to head coach Gargell to comment on the matter.
Why isn’t Jani Korpela in the team?
– The answer is simple. I demand commitment from all players and team members to certain values and principles. At the moment, he does not follow the values of the national team and, above all, of the group, says Gargelli.
– That is why he is not in the team in the next match. This kind of thing can happen in sports, and it won’t be the first or the last time.
Have other players been dropped from the team for similar reasons?
– Miika Hosio missing for the same reasons. Some other players have injuries that keep them out of the team.
How would you describe the spirit of the team right now in the midst of these things?
– I think the spirit is good. One of the aspects of my job is to keep the team spirit good. I don’t think there are any problems.
What kind of relationship do you have with the players dropped from the team? What needs to happen for them to return to your team?
– I have nothing personal against them. I have 17 players in the team and I have to treat them all the same. I always keep the door open for players who deserve to play in the national team and are committed to the team’s values.
Miika Hosio is an experienced member of the national futsal team, who also played in the European Championship in Finland’s jersey in January-February 2022. Urheilu reached Hosio on Sunday, but he did not want to comment on head coach Gargell’s claims.
Sergio Gargelli came to Finland in 2021 as the head coach of Akaa Futsal, from where the journey continued to the national team. Previously, he has coached the national teams of Vietnam, Norway and China, among others.
The possibility of a place in the competition improved unexpectedly
The last years of Finnish futsal have been the most successful in history. The previous head coach, a Croatian by Mico Martic under him, Finland made it to the European Championships for the first time and even there all the way to the quarterfinals.
Finland still has a chance to qualify for next year’s World Cup in Uzbekistan. The impact of the canceled match against Armenia on the standings will be decided later, but presumably Finland will get a forfeit win from the match.
Finland will face Portugal, the leader of the qualifying group, next Friday on the away field. Reigning world and European champion Portugal can confirm the World Cup place by taking a point from Finland. In the event of a tie, the goal difference between the two matches will decide. Portugal defeated Finland 5–1 in the first meeting.
In order for Finland to win the group and a direct place in the competition, Portugal would have to fall by at least five goals. With a smaller win, Portugal could still fall behind if they don’t beat Georgia in their last game.
The four best second-placed teams from the five groups of the last round of the European World Cup qualification will qualify for the further qualification, which will be played in April next year. Finland is firmly in at least one of the next qualifying spots.